How to remove nylon screws - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: owl_uk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 09:42:15 pm
content: I've been working on hacking/rebuilding an old LED Sign from a bus stop, and I've got a problem. It has a metal frame with tapped holes, and into those are screwed plastic (I think nylon) spacers. They're about 20mm long and have a screw slot in the top to undo them - or at least some of them are. Most of them have snapped, leaving either a bit of a shaft sticking out or nothing but a bit of plastic left in the hole (photo attached). I've tried gripping the shafts that stick out with a pair of pliers, but I can't turn them. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 10:03:33 pm
content: Cut off flush with a sharp blade and either leave them in there or drill them out.

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 10:09:21 pm
content: Cut them flat, yes. But dril a smaller hole, in the middle and screw them out with a screw extractor.Thats a sort of left-turning screw that grabs hold while turning loose.Any proper hardware store has them.http://stanleyindia.in/mech_specialty/specialty/images/screw_extractor.jpg

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 10:12:48 pm
content: A screw extractor will probably just cut its way through nylon..

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 11:37:17 pm
content: Maybe cut the stub off flush, drill a small hole in the stub, then gently hammer a very small Allen/Torx/Spline wrench into the hole. Add some penetrating oil to help free up the stub.Ed

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 11:41:53 pm
content: Cut off flush then drill out the centre's with a left hand drill approx 1/2 to 3/4 the size of the broken off stub, the drill should relieve the pressure on the stub and the left hand turn will in most cases unscrew the stub

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 11:55:20 pm
content: Once they have a small hole drilled right through them it should be easy to punch them through with a hammer and a plastic punch.

author: Yago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 12:13:37 am
content: Quote from: Psi on January 30, 2014, 11:55:20 pmA light bit of heat gun to just soften too?

author: UPI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 01:55:29 am
content: You might add a light penetrating lubricant to make them easier to turn before you go to an extreme.When they are absolutely stuck, we drill them out with a bit just slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the screw. Sometimes they just start turning on their own during drilling. You can then use an extractor or just pick at it with a sharp tool until it breaks up.Chase the threads with a tap afterwards.

author: owl_uk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 08:15:00 am
content: Thanks for all the suggestions. I thought about using a heat gun, but I'm not 100% sure that these are nylon. Is there an easy way to tell? What else might they be - polyester? Am I likely to end up with a burned up mess?As for left handed drills, how do you stop them falling out of the chuck? What would you use to drill it, a rechargable electric drill or a hand drillstock?

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 08:49:36 am
content: nitric acid

author: hedgewallace
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2014, 09:07:07 am
content: Quote from: owl_uk on January 31, 2014, 08:15:00 amI would use a rechargeable electric drill. A hand drill requires two hands to use it. It would go all over the place, and may slip.If you are drilling through metal, you would need a decent rechargeable electric drill.Remember, if your drilling through metal, set the RPM on your drill to as LOW as possible. Otherwise your drill bit will heat up, and will wear out.