Advice on getting a screw... removed from a prop.

[sycor]

I have a hollow plastic blaster that is held together with hex screws. Well, two of them are stripped. It appears they should take a 5/64 allen but it just turns in the head. Being that it's a prop (and plastic) I want to get them out as easily as possible so the blaster wont get damaged. Also, where can I get hex nuts that small? Does Home Depot sell stuff like that?

 

[hankey01]

Can you use a dremel to cut a slot in the end..then use a flat head screwdriver to remove it?

 

[franz bolo]

A screw extractor might work but it depends on how small the screw is.

You can try using a Torx or Square head screwdriver to see if it will grip the edges better.

You can Dremel a notch into the head of the screw then use a flat head screwdriver. I once super glued an Allen Wrench into a stripped screw and it came out.

Good Luck

FB

 

[Great_Bizarro]

What is the name of that product they show on tv, it looks like it would work. It is a special dril lbit and a removal tool.

 

[Gigatron]

What is the name of that product they show on tv, it looks like it would work. It is a special dril lbit and a removal tool.

The GRABIT http://www.4grabit.com/Default.asp?gclid=CLyHtoXQoZQCFQZZHgodRT39tQ&bhcp=1

Looks interesting. I wonder if it really works or if it's a gimmicky POS.

-Fred

 

[sycor]

Can you use a dremel to cut a slot in the end..then use a flat head screwdriver to remove it?

No I can't. The screw is recessed into the body of the gun. I think I might try to super glue thing. I'm just hope I can seperate them afterwards so I don't loose my allen wrench.

Anyone know where to get small screws like that? Does Lowe's sell them?

 

[desolate]

they make a tool called a easy out.. it consist of you using a drill and drilling a hole down the center of the screw .. then you hit the easy out in the hole you drilling and it should twist right now from there..

 

[slave1pilot]

Don't forget that this is a plastic blaster
Drilling or dremeling will heat up the screw & melt the area around it

 

[sycor]

Yeah i didn't even think about that. Good reminder.

 

[Cooter Davis]

The GRABIT http://www.4grabit.com/Default.asp?gclid=CLyHtoXQoZQCFQZZHgodRT39tQ&bhcp=1

Looks interesting. I wonder if it really works or if it's a gimmicky POS.

-Fred

This tool is by far the best invention ever created. I OWN one and its fantastic!

 

[Reactor drone]

I'd second the EZ out option,they're a tapered left handed screw so as you screw out normally they drive in until they bite and rotate the screw out.

 

[Russ257]

Just an idea. Could you superglue the hex key into the screw. You could probably pull the screw off the key with a pair of plyers when you were done. Not sure how small the screw is but the ezout may be too big.

 

[sycor]

yeah I think ez out and grabit are both too big. It's a small screw. About a 5/64 hex. I'm going to try to superglue idea.

 

[b26354]

You could also see if you can find a metric 2mm allen wrench and see if it's a tighter fit than the 5/64.

 

[sycor]

You could also see if you can find a metric 2mm allen wrench and see if it's a tighter fit than the 5/64.

I'm going to try that too. Going to lowes after work. Just wondering if I need to check the replica gun with security in case someone freaks out.

 

[Mattastic13]

I would check it

Some people at Lowes freaked out when I took my unfinished stormtrooper blaster....it is white PVC with a black handle.

The only thing I can think of was that someone thought the handle was a pistol....go figure

 

[sycor]

Yeah. I will just go to customer service and ask for a security guy. I don't want to get shot trying to buy an allen wrench. :eek

 

[sycor]

Okay, they aren't metric. The heads are stripped. I tried the superglue trick but the glue just failed when I turned the wrench. I really don't want to use a ez-out since I don't have replacements for the screws when they come out. I guess I can't do what I wanted to do.

 

[Prefect42]

Crazy idea.

What if you put a small dab of JB weld into the stripped area. Then a light coat of vaseline on the allen wrench. Push the allen wrench into the JB weld just as it is starting to firm up. If you can get a good impression of the wrench, let the JB weld harden completely and then back the screw out.

Does this make sense? I've never tried it but thought it might be worth a shot.

Ted.

 

[sycor]

I thought about trying something like this but wasn't sure what to use. I'll give it a shot.