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UGH!!!

I learned my lesson to late. I have a few patch bays stuck in a rack and need to release them some how. Any ideas?

Assuming these are standard phillips-head rack screws, I can think of a couple of things you can try. I would try them in this order:

1. Try a large Torx bit or square-head bit.

2. Use locking pliers/vise grip pliers to turn the entire head of the screw.

3. Use a file and cut a groove across the head so that you can use a flathead screwdriver

4. Use the drill method to remove the head of the screw. (Plenty of Google hits on that.

I've also heard of people using superglue to attach a dowel to the screw that they can then turn. The difficulty is getting past that initial torque required to get the screw moving.

Good luck!

Originally posted by Ray Toler:
Assuming these are standard phillips-head rack screws, I can think of a couple of things you can try. I would try them in this order:

1. Try a large Torx bit or square-head bit.

2. Use locking pliers/vise grip pliers to turn the entire head of the screw.

3. Use a file and cut a groove across the head so that you can use a flathead screwdriver

4. Use the drill method to remove the head of the screw. (Plenty of Google hits on that.

I've also heard of people using superglue to attach a dowel to the screw that they can then turn. The difficulty is getting past that initial torque required to get the screw moving.

Good luck!

Thank yoy Ray! Great suggestions and I will try them all. At first I tryed boring a hole with a small bit then takeing another bit and going the other way. Did not work...

Sears sells a very good screw extractor for under 20.00. CHuck it into a reversible drill and it works.

Originally posted by Larry Sheehan:
Sears sells a very good screw extractor for under 20.00. CHuck it into a reversible drill and it works.

Yesterday I tried 2 out of the three suggestions Ray had posted and that screw is stuck and when I try to get anywhere it just bends like butter. I tried the cutting across the screw to use with a flat head and no good. I hot a real nice pliers that locks and no good. I went to Ace and I picked up a drill bit that borowed in and a drill bit going the reverse way and no good still. I still have not tried glue and a post yet.

Larry this bit I get at Sears does it sound like the one I purchased from Ace?

thank you

"Larry this bit I get at Sears does it sound like the one I purchased from Ace?"

Dude, Sears drill bits SOUND the best, comparable to Neuman. Nothing like ACE. Just messing with ya, SOUNDS like you just got a regular old drill bit from ACE, the Sears thing is a Stripped SCREW extractor, ask the counter person. You could always us a sawz all and just cut the "ears" off your equipment!

<small>[ March 14, 2005, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: Danthesoundman ]</small>

A dremel tool would work well to carefully shave the screw heads off. Shouldn't do any damage to your equipment.

Although the cost is a little more than the bit.

Use a srew extractor.

Sorry I was away at the beach.
The thing from Ace was probably a screw extractor (aka Easy Out). It requires that you drill the screw in the center and turn the tool into the hole with a socket.

The sears deal (which was in their flyer for 9.99 last week) is used in a cordless drill. Chuck it in, put the drill in reverse and start at a moderate speed. It has carbide cutters which will grab the screw head.

The other way I've dealt with stripped rack screws is to grind the head off, remove the gear, and then remove them from the back with vise grips. Chase the threads with a 10-32 tap to clean up.

<small>[ March 19, 2005, 08:34 AM: Message edited by: Larry Sheehan ]</small>