Getting out screws with stripped head

[rdg]

Twice now I have had German epee screw heads get stripped so that the screw driver slot is useless. The screws are too small for my easy out. Do any of you have a good method for removing screws like this.

Thanks,

Sam

[Mergs]

There are a couple of methods of doing this.

First is to try to cut another slot in the screw using an exacto knife or utility knife and then carefully try to back out the screw.

The second requires number 57, 56 and 55 drill bits. Use the #57 bit to drill through the screw (like you would for an easy out pilot hole), then use the #56 to enlargen the hole, and again with the #55. By now you should be able use a philips head jewelers screw driver to press in and get a bite on the screw to back it out.

[fencerbill]

You wouldn't be trying so hard to get the screw out unless the Foil needed work to be tested and used in a bout.

The alternative to not getting the screw out is that you have to rewire, and maybe throw the whole tip away.

I have used 2 different methods.

You can use a Dremel with the thinnest cutting blade you can find and just cut a new slot.

Or you can use a 1/32 inch engraving bit and just drill down through the screw until you can pick out the remnants of the screw. I did this once at Nationals between the semifinals and finals so the fencer could use his favorite Foil in the gold medal bout. Unfortunately, he then beat someone from my fencing club for the gold.

You can reuse the parts even if they are a little marked up.

[brtech]

He did say it was an epee, but your advise is still good fencerbill

[Pescados666]

Depending on how much time you have you could try putting a bit of loctite or something similar on the screw head and placing the screwdriver in there and letting it cure to the screwdriver. Not sure how strong loctite is as I haven't found a reason to use it. On the stripped screws I had to deal with while rebuilding computers, woodworking, ect, I just ended up putting my weight into the screwdriver to get what little grip was left but that would probably end up damaging the barrel.

[fencerbill]

What was the quote from SNL?

"Never Mind"

The little engraving bit, 1/32 inch, could be used to deepen the screw slot.

A little more damage to an Epee barrel than a Foil barrel, but the cutting wheel COULD be used.

In order to save as much as possible and avoid rewiring, you could just grind the screws flush and only replace the tip.

[sir alasdair]

You could try using the new ZipTip which is screwless and just has a little clip/tool that comes with it. They are legal except in International competitions. They only make an epee tip, unfortunately. If they could make these for foil, somehow, I'd be a customer.

[remistress]

I've had some success taking a jewelry screwdriver and then using something like a mallet to gently tap in a new groove on the said chewed up screw. The only time this hasn't worked is when the actual threads on the screw were already stripped...and apparently that screw came out later of its own accord.

[LordShout]

I'm suprised this wasn't the first advice given.

1: Take hammer
2: Place screw driver over the screw
3: Whack
4: See step 3 until the screw is either turnable (aka you've cut a new groove) or cut in half.
5:Rotate screw driver 90 degrees and see step 3

I've found this to be the simplest way, I use cheapo 95 cent tip screw drivers and they work fine, the slightly more expensive eyeglass or jewellers screw drivers also work. Eventually you either cut a new groove or chip out the screw, and if you're weak and slow eventually means 5 minutes tops.

[fencerbill]

I'm suprised this wasn't the first advice given.

1: Take hammer
2: Place screw driver over the screw
3: Whack
4: See step 3 until the screw is either turnable (aka you've cut a new groove) or cut in half.
5:Rotate screw driver 90 degrees and see step 3

I've found this to be the simplest way, I use cheapo 95 cent tip screw drivers and they work fine, the slightly more expensive eyeglass or jewellers screw drivers also work. Eventually you either cut a new groove are chip out the screw, and if you're weak and slow eventually means 5 minutes tops.

You forgot step 6:

6. Get a bigger hammer!