Thankyou, but how do I now remove the old screws?

[Anonymous]

Firstly, thanks to all for helping me find someone to replace my old leaded windows in my last post.

Now I have another problem... how do you remove old, seized screws from their old metal casing?

I can even start to twist them - the slots are still there, but despite my best efforts the screwdriver just jumps out.

Any help is very welcome.

Many thanks

Ady

 

[Anonymous]

The joy of restoration is all in the challenge.

All of us have a "loose screw" to do it.

So:-
You oil them,you tap them, you heat them, you hit them.you drill them, you grind them, you swear at them,you threaten them and pray a bit.

Eventually you will get them out.

AND DO NOT DAMAGE anything in the process.

Simple !

 

[Anonymous]

My grandad had a theory that one should first tighten the screw a tiny bit; I don't know quite why, but it really does seem to make removing them easier.

 

[Anonymous]

And when you get older you tend to realise that, yep your dad did know best, or even Grandad!!!!

If the screwdriver keeps coming out then you have the wrong size screwdriver. Find one that is a tight fit in the slot, it won't then move and pop out.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't waste too much time with most of those suggestions, except the 'drill it'. Get a power drill and a decent bit, slightly slimmer than the offending screw, and drill a hole straight down the middle. Not easy, but it may be the only way.

 

[Anonymous]

Between them, everyone has just about covered all the bases (Moo's Grandad was right, too!)
I swear by WD40. Soak the stuff into the the gap between the screw and the frame (scratch away as much paint as can first). Leave it to soak in for an hour or two, adding more WD40 from time to time. Then, as already advise, get the right sized screwdriver and push it into the slot as hard as you can, while turning the shank (with a wrench if necessary for extra leverage). Turn clockwise a bit first, then anticlockwise to remove.
If that still fails, you'll have to drill the screw out as Biff says. The only problem with this technique is that it can leave an irretrievable bit of screw in the hole, which makes it impossible to use the same hole for a new screw.

 

[Anonymous]

couldn't you use a tap and dye set to remove the bit of screw left in?

 

[Anonymous]

The short answer is no, Graham, because a normal tap and die is a right-hand thread. So it would tend to drive the screw farther in.
You can, however, get things called various names - Easyout is one - that are specifically designed for removing screws. They bite into the top of the screw with a left-hand thread to help remove it.
I know Screwfix do a set of them - can't remember the name at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

Oooops
I knew it wasn't tap and dye, but just couldn't come up with the right name, easyout was what I was thinking of David.

Graham

 

[Anonymous]

Screw removers

 

[Anonymous]

If it's an old brass screw then drilling it out wont be a problem. But modern woodscrews will just ruin your drill bits.

I use an electric impact driver (this is VERY different to an electric screwdriver) and it will usually get ANY screw in or out. You can put all your weight behind it to keep the point in the slot, and let the impacxt mechanism deal with applying the torque without the reaction to deal with.

They arent cheap but if you do any amount of DIY etc you will wonder how you ever managed without it...



http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=BTD120SAE

 

[Anonymous]

I was looking for an old-fashioned impact screwdriver (hold it in the slot, hit with a hammer) for this very reason - yet to see one in any of the usual hardware outlets.

 

[Anonymous]

This one may not be robust enough - but at £8.99 there is not much to lose in trying!



cheap impact screwdriver

 

[Anonymous]

I've never had any luck with the traditional type of impact screwdriver, my cheap one simply exploded under the first few hammer blows...
wheras the electric thing is incredible....

 

[Anonymous]

I am not convinced that the £8.99 one with changeable bits will stand up to much (I've ordered one anyway). My father used to have one that was wood and steel and was up to the job...but only if the screw was the right size!

I'm sure the makita one is great, but for the amateur situation where time may not be money, £280 could be spent on a lot of other useful tools!

 

[Anonymous]

As you say, depends what your time is worth. I've had mine about 2 years now and I reckon it has saved me a good 40-50 hours in that time (not including the swearing time)...

If anyone is consdering a cordless drill/driver then one of these plus a good mains SDS is a much more usefull combo in my opinion...