Removing screws without damaging them / leaving marks on the heads
 

Hey folks,

I am trying to fix a couple of old cameras I have and wondered if anyone can help with this...........

I have always noticed on anything with small screws such as speedos etc when you take them apart quite often you damage the screw head or remove the black paint on the screw.

I got around this in the past with flat head screws by covering the driver blade in tape but this isn't possible for cross head screws.

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions for this?

sorry this might have been better in OT......

Loose piece of Saran Wrap on the screw head & insert screwdriver slowly so that the wrap does not rip.

You can also use valve grinding paste on the tip of the screwdriver. It enhances the grip.

Use a high quality screwdriver Snap-on or mac.

For common screws (flat blade type) make sure the blade of the driver is as wide as the screw head.
For Philips type...be advised...there are 2 types of "cross-shaped" screws...Philips...and Reed&Prince...they are NOT the same!!
Philips you know...but Reed&Prince looks almost the same..except the cross is indented into the head of the screw slightly...in other words...there is a slight vertical edge at the end of the bevel instead of the bevel coming all the way up to the surface....also the angle of the bevel is different.
Valve grinding paste is good...or...anything that will make the connection tighter.
Also...always use downforce as you turn...and keep the driver vertical to the head of the screw.
Bob

That is the answer! I repair cameras for a living. Let me tell you, the screwdriver you use will make a world of difference. I use Wiha screwdrivers. And they're made in Germany!

Scotland, eh? You sure they are not Whitworth? :D

Seriously. You received some good answers. Quality screwdrivers with hardened tips and sized properly will go a long way toward not damaging screw heads. -J

The important element of a screw driver is whether the driving flats is are parallel and not slanted like a wedge towards the handle. Most screw driver driving flats are wedge like slanted. Precision screw drivers have parallel driving edges. You can always regrind your driving flats. I have done it with a Dremel grinder even on Phillips screw drivers.

thanks chaps much appreciated, some very helpful info.

I suspect some new tools will be on order soon!

+1 on the blade of the screwdriver. Make sure the blade is a wide as the screw cavity, and flat! I work on watches,and high quality tools make all the difference in the world!