getting stuck screws unstuck
 

ok...what's the SOP for getting stuck screws unstuck. These are actually on the oven, not the 911 (shhhh!), but I figure the principles are the same. Phillips head screws into metal holding a glass plate in place. Got 2 of them, but the other 5 aren't budging...and I don't want to strip them. Put a drop of bike chain lube (all I've got in the garage), and am now heating the oven to see if that will help. Trying very hard not to strip the damn things. The screwdriver is a pretty tight fit in the screwhead, so I don't think I can change that part.

help? I'm about to run to HDepot to get some penetrating oil, but beyond that?

PB Blaster!

Kroil!

That's a tough on. Might have to come to the ultimate realization that these buggers have been heat-cycled and stressed too many times, and can't be removed non-destructively. (Sigh)

Or, you could hit them with PB Blaster twice a day for a week or two, then try again. Use the closest fitting screwdriver you can find, and push really hard axially, into the screw. Like, put as much weight as you can onto the direction. It generally takes relatively little force to actually remove the screw, compared to the force required to keep the phillip's head actually in the screw.

(sigh) But don't listen to me, I drilled out the last set of stuck phillip's I had.

Dan

tap them with something metal repeatedly after you use pen. oil -- this means hundreds of times or at least dozens the tapping gets the oil down into the nasty crevices and also breaks the stuck portions free on a micro scale

besides drilling, a torch, etc. I would start thinking about a new oven

Don't use PB Blaster in your kitchen!!! It will take weeks to get the smell out of your home. If you go to an industrial fastener supplier you can buy some Aero Kroil, it's smells like Pine Sol & works just as good as PB Blaster.

Sounds like you won't be able to do much hammering because of the glass. If you strip them, you may have to drill holes & use a small easy-out. You may have to drill off the heads, take off the glass, then use a pair of Vise Grips to get the rest out. Good luck.

I've got some liquid wrench spray sitting on them now. If that doesn't work (and yes to the axial pressure Dan...I"ve already moved the stove twice by leaning into it), then I'm going to smash the glass out (it is cracked anyway...that's why I'm doing this dumbass job). That should give me enough space to crank the snot out of a pair of vice grips on the screw head.

after you let the penetrent sit for a while, clean it off and coat the head of the screwdrive with valve grinding compound. This will help the phillips head get a "bite" and lessen the likelyhood of stripping the head. have a buddy hold the driver as tightly into the screw as possible while you turn the handle with a pair of channel locks or an adjustable wrench. The extra leverage will be the trick unless your buddy relaxes and lets the driver slip. In that case, simply blame him and give him a drill ;)

Using an impact driver would have been too risky with glass involved. However, since the glass is toast (oven joke, get it?). Anyway, if there's substantial structure under the screw head to absorb the beating from the impact driver, go for it. Wear safety glasses if glass is still in the area. Wear them anyway.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

Whats funny is the impact driver that HF sells has the best Phillips bits for grabbing a screw. I sometimes use the thing just to have the nice big round cushioned grip while turning the screw. If that doesn't get it, then I will hit the impact with a hammer as it was designed to work. A little bit of pre tension in the CCW direction and you don't have to smack it very hard at all. In fact, I've used that trick with a regular Phillips screw driver.

The VG compound sounds like a godo idea as well. I have read that here before, but forgot. I'm gonna go put my tube next to the driver so I remember. Thanks.

leave the glass... buy a new oven

I think broiling the oven a while, then crank on the screws. Propane torch is better aimed and more concentrated. Screws probably cooked and coked in. Break glass in case of emergency. Vice grip screw heads, ripped off heads, drill out screws, run a tap and install new screws. Are these sheet metal or threaded screws?

Problem with impact tools is they put big dents in sheet metal. :)

"best Phillips bits for grabbing a screw"

Zeke - are these the ones with the little ribs in them? The SnapOff bits have those and grip well.

I agree w/shrup re the stink from pb Blaster. You can also mailorder Kroil.