screw grab compound? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2023, 09:07:42 am
content: I see there are compounds meant to help extract busted screws. A few youtube videos seem to show success.Does this stuff work good?https://www.baselabtools.com/Screw-Grab_p_1904.html

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2023, 10:02:00 am
content: Seeing is believing. Apparently those adhesives work great, for those users.In sum, adhesives can have a use, but they will not extract a rusted, 3/8" broken stud from an engine block. I prefer other methods. The method must be adapted to the situation.For Phillips head screws that have ruined slots, but are not otherwise stuck, I have used epoxy. For more difficult instances , I have used LH drill bits, taps, and/or screws to get them out.

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2023, 07:44:46 pm
content: If a screw head is not in a recess, then using a small vice (one you can hold in your hand, not something big fastened to a table) to grip across the sides of the head often lets you twist even a pretty rusted screw with a stripped head free. If it is in a recess, running a power drillbackwardsagainst the screw head sometimes works, use a drill bit you don't care about and hope if somewhat grabs the damaged remains of the screw's cross/slot/hex... as it turns, over time as it spins there are many chances for it to grab the stripepd head and start unfastening.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2023, 09:14:42 pm
content: Pick up a set of vessel JIS screw drivers. They don't cam out as much as the phillips/positive ones.Pickup a impact driver. The turn the way you want to undo and hit with a hammer. Very good at getting some stuff out.Left handed drill bits are also handy.The grip glues etc are handy with allen or torx stuff as I think it fills the gap and prevents the rounding in the first place. I have often just used epoxy glue for that, even hot glue does the job.I have managed a few times with just a bit of inertube rubber or a rubber band to give some extra grip.Hmm makes me wonder is a rubber on the end of a drill bit would help with some stuff.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2023, 09:49:52 pm
content: yeah I heard putting a rubber band on a joint helps too, like wide brocolli bandbut this compound seems nice to have because I can leave it around in smaller tubes or syringes and use with whatever screw driver i got where ever I ami think ima try it soon

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 06:07:32 pm
content: A mixture with something like silicon carbide or diamond grit, combined with something to make it stick such as petroleum jelly is probably a good starting point for DIY. And you can make it without the extreme marketing markup of those big brand names. To give you an idea, diamond costs around EUR300/kg. It is after all just a carbon allotrope.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 06:38:16 pm
content: well it requires to know which grit will be good to make the purchase pay offI know I can experiment with different abrasives / pastes but I don't exactly have a abrasive materials laboratory

author: Veteran68
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 07:33:17 pm
content: A rubber band can work in a pinch of there's enough irregular shape in the head for it to grab on to, but if the head is rounded out smooth or the screw/bolt is seized or just really right (such as when rusted, or in hardwood) then the best bet is aset of screw extractors. These consist of a special drill bit to size the hole in the head properly to accept a matching reverse-threaded bit that bites into the head while reversing in a power drill.Have to be careful though not to over-drill out the hole, or you'll drill off the head completely and be left with only the shaft of the screw/bolt, which if small will probably have to be drilled completely out.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2024, 07:15:42 pm
content: how about putting a dash of electronics silicone into a screw to act as rubber? So long you have cure time it adheres pretty good.I had to undo a screw that had some silicone in the head and thought of this.