Stripped Torx screws

  • Thread starter Thread starter _ZZ
  • Start date Start date
Z

_ZZ

I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
 
Small drill bit or grinding bit in a Dremel (other small drills are
available) should allow you to take the head off. If it's a drive, chances
are that once you've taken the head off the screw, the actual shank will
unscrew without any trouble because there won't be any pressure on it any
more. It's not as if it will be rusted in place, or if it is, you're
probably wasting your time anyway.

HTH
Mike.
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
You mentioned its a working disk drive - why do you need to disassemble its
case? Such operations are strictly for the experts in a cleanroom
environment as even a tiny spec of dust getting in can ruin a HDD. If on the
other hand you're referring to screws which hold the drive in the PC
case/cage then a dremel with a cutting disk in it could be used to cut a
groove in the head to suit a flat blade screwdriver.

Paul
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.'
Click to expand...

I frequently use a soldering iron on the offending screw to loosen it
before attempting to turn it with a screw extractor
 
Get a life...


<[email protected]> schreef in bericht
: _ZZ wrote:
: > I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
: > about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
: > 'pre-stripped.'
:
: I frequently use a soldering iron on the offending screw to loosen it
: before attempting to turn it with a screw extractor
:
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

I've found that a fractional drop of Kroil let to soak overnite will
work wonders. Beware that it will likely creep inside the drive with
unknown but seldom beneficial results - I've only used it on dead drives.
 
Mike said:
Small drill bit or grinding bit in a Dremel (other small drills are
available) should allow you to take the head off.
Click to expand...


_________________________________________________

I use a Dremel too, but not to take the head off. Use a thin cutting
wheel and grind a screwdriver slot in the head, then use a regular
screwdriver to remove it. Works great if done carefully.
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Bolt splitter and a mallet. If that fails I usually get out the angle
grinder.

ss.
 
Nick Hull said:
I've found that a fractional drop of Kroil let to soak overnite will
work wonders. Beware that it will likely creep inside the drive with
unknown but seldom beneficial results - I've only used it on dead drives.
Click to expand...
Slaves don`t need guns, `cos they`ve mostly been shot by the good old boys
with guns !!
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...


Use a small (3/32"?) left-handed drill bit and start drilling out the
screw *very* slowly with a variable speed drill. Once the drill bit
bites into the screw, it will back the screw out. I've done this will
several very small computer philips screws -- I don't know why torx
would be any different.

Best regards,
Bob
 
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.
Click to expand...

"Pre-stripped" as-in, their head used to be better but a
tool has stripped it some, or pre-stripped as-in, this is an
unusual screw head that is still in pristine condition?

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.
Click to expand...

You should not tap it with a mallet. Sudden shock to a
working (viable) drive is a bad idea ignoring the screws.


I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Find the closest shaped bit you can that's a little
oversized. From your description it would be an allen bit.
Since that is not a complex shaped pattern you can probably
replicate it with minimal effort. Take a fine file and
reduce the bit just enough to fit with minimal-to-no force
to insert it.
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

I would use an easyout. I would also tape up the drive so everything
was covered before beginning as you will be creating small bits of metal
that could destroy the drive it any at all got inside.

I would suggest the tape idea for any method you come up with.
 
I would use the thin cut-off wheel on a
moto-tool to cut a slot across
the head. Then use a flat screwdriver.
If the screw is a flat head, you
may have the use a small "easy out." as
others have suggested.
 
_ZZ said:
I'm trying to deal with small Torx screws on a drive case. They're
about T8, maybe T7. Tough to tell cause the screws are
'pre-stripped.' In other words, there's not much edge for a Torx
driver to grip them. They almost look like rounded allen-head screws.
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them.

These are not the tamper-proof variety, so I don't need a hollow-point
Torx driver (if they even make them that small).

The first thing that occurred to me was to place a small Torx driver
in the holes and tap the end lightly with a mallet. That could do
more harm than good though, as this looks like very soft metal. It's
also a working disk drive case, so I don't want to damage the drive.

I could try a tiny screw extractor, but the risk is that it wouldn't
work and then the remainder of the screw would really jam things up.
Click to expand...

Clamp a small pair of vise grips on the outside of the fastner to get the
screw started, then continue with whatever method (vise grips, fingers,
torx, et cetera) you prefer from then on out. If that doesn't work, slit
the screw and use a flat screwdriver.

Jon
 
"Pre-stripped" as-in, their head used to be better but a
tool has stripped it some, or pre-stripped as-in, this is an
unusual screw head that is still in pristine condition?
Click to expand...

Thanks to all for some great ideas that never occurred to me.

I should have explained a bit better: By 'Drive Case' I meant that
this is an external USB 2.0 case. I'm not dismantling the actual
drive--it's intact, inside this case.

The original objective was to buy the external USB2 case with a larger
drive, then swap the drive in the laptop with the drive in the case.
Imagine my surprise. 'Pre-stripped' means that the original Torx (if
that's even what they are) have barely any edge...very rounded, almost
like an allen indent, but even rounder. They obviously didn't want
people messing with their drive case. I've seen tons of cases like
this, and this is the only one that uses such a bizarre screw.

Also, the screws are slightly indented. Metal from the enclosure
forms a shoulder around it. But the idea of sawing a flat-blade slot
may work. I may be able to get a small blade in there.

Then I should probably find replacement screws. They'll probably be
some odd Martian thread.
 
:

Clamp a small pair of vise grips on the outside of the fastner to get the
screw started, then continue with whatever method (vise grips, fingers,
torx, et cetera) you prefer from then on out. If that doesn't work, slit
the screw and use a flat screwdriver.

Jon
Click to expand...

You know, that would have been my first try, but the screws are
indented (bastards! <g>).

I have a Dremel tool, but now I'm wishing I had bought the vari-speed.
The full-speed one is great for cutting circuit boards, etc. but a bit
scarey in this application. I also don't like the thought of a blade
flying apart at such a rotational speed. I saw that with a sanding
disk once...Impressive enough.

Is there a light-weight, low-powered tool that does this kind of thing
well? Probably a small, versatile battery-powered drill of some kind.
Between a battery-powered screwdriver and a plugin Dremel.
 
_ZZ said:
<snip>

Thanks to all for some great ideas that never occurred to me.

I should have explained a bit better: By 'Drive Case' I meant that
this is an external USB 2.0 case. I'm not dismantling the actual
drive--it's intact, inside this case.

The original objective was to buy the external USB2 case with a larger
drive, then swap the drive in the laptop with the drive in the case.
Imagine my surprise. 'Pre-stripped' means that the original Torx (if
that's even what they are) have barely any edge...very rounded, almost
like an allen indent, but even rounder. They obviously didn't want
people messing with their drive case. I've seen tons of cases like
this, and this is the only one that uses such a bizarre screw.

Also, the screws are slightly indented. Metal from the enclosure
forms a shoulder around it. But the idea of sawing a flat-blade slot
may work. I may be able to get a small blade in there.

Then I should probably find replacement screws. They'll probably be
some odd Martian thread.
Click to expand...

They may *not* be Torx screws. Google "safety screws" for more info
on head/driver designs.

Notan
 
Notan said:
<snip>

They may *not* be Torx screws. Google "safety screws" for more info
on head/driver designs.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check Sears or your local hardware store. They've
got "damaged screw removers," that, if small enough, might do the trick.

Notan
 
You know, that would have been my first try, but the screws are
indented (bastards! <g>).

I have a Dremel tool, but now I'm wishing I had bought the vari-speed.
The full-speed one is great for cutting circuit boards, etc. but a bit
scarey in this application. I also don't like the thought of a blade
flying apart at such a rotational speed. I saw that with a sanding
disk once...Impressive enough.

Is there a light-weight, low-powered tool that does this kind of thing
well? Probably a small, versatile battery-powered drill of some kind.
Between a battery-powered screwdriver and a plugin Dremel.
Click to expand...

You might try a "worn down" cutoff
wheel. When worn, the diameter can
be as small as 3/8". Not knowing the
exact geometry of the drive, it's hard
to know if this would work. You still
have to physically get the tool in the
area. BTW, use safety glasses ... these
wheels can fly when they break up
and they WILL break.
 
Thanks to all for some great ideas that never occurred to me.

I should have explained a bit better: By 'Drive Case' I meant that
this is an external USB 2.0 case. I'm not dismantling the actual
drive--it's intact, inside this case.

The original objective was to buy the external USB2 case with a larger
drive, then swap the drive in the laptop with the drive in the case.
Imagine my surprise. 'Pre-stripped' means that the original Torx (if
that's even what they are) have barely any edge...very rounded, almost
like an allen indent, but even rounder.
Click to expand...

Are you sure these aren't a "pop-rivet" sort of fastener - IE: not a
"screw" at all? If so, you'll have to drill them out.

FWIW, I've see external USB Hard Drive cases available for under $10
US (actually there are a few on Ebay right now for $1, (plus like $8
shipping). You might be better off just to get a new one (unless
you're bored and this is a "challenge" <g>).
 
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