Need to remove a screw with a stripped head

[wakiz]

Anyone know how to remove a screw with a stripped head? The outside of the head is round, and the inside is supposed to be hexagonal...I think they're called Allen screw or something like that. I need to remove one of these screws, but for some reason, the hexagonal part has been rounded and I haven't been able to turn it. The screw is recessed, and there is about 1mm of clearance around the outside of the screw, so I haven't been able to grab it with pliers either.

Any ideas?

[wb22rules]

Whats it on ?
Durable , fragile .
Can it take some banging
Possibly find correct tool to drive into it .
Is it too small to use a drill and then a small easy-out ?
Are keeping the original threads important , or do you want to drill it out and re tap to next larger size ?

[wakiz]

The screw is on my kitchen faucet. The faucet is leaking and I want to change the washers inside. The screw holds the handle on, which I need to remove in order to acess the washers.

It is a Delta stainless-steel faucet. It has a single handle and spout. As long as I can get the screw out, I don't care because I can prolly find another screw to hold the handle on.

[palmboy5]

looks like its been fixed again and again
just get something and squeeze it to a good shape
*pss its hopeless*

[wb22rules]

Can you get a dremel with a wheel down onto to it to cut a slot for a flat head screwdriver ?

Arrange 2 small tools into hole so they bind and you can try to turn screw.

just throwing some ideas out there

[RavenTai]

yep #2 easy out will do the job,( i like the spiral type instead of the square ones) drill a #40 hole (about 3/32") about 1/4" deep, and be careful, if you break the easy out you will not be able to drill it as it is verry hard, you would have to remove it with a carbide rotary file in a dremel or similar


you also may want to get a full set of allen keys they come in metric and inch, not having the perfect size will make it apear to be stripped out, it should have resistance going in and fit the hole snugly

[wb22rules]

I mistakenly thought he had the correct allen wrench
They are very hard to strip , my bust , that is defintaly your first move , if that doesnt work , see above

Thanks for stating the obvious RT

[wakiz]

I fixed a similar model faucet about a week ago and my allen key fit right in. I am using a SAE set of allen keys that came with my socket set.

I looked in the hole and the hole is a circle . As for the easy out, I found a screw extractor on sears.com Item no. 00967362000 if the link doesn't work...

Is that what I need? How do I use that tool? Do I put it on my power drill?

[wb22rules]

Originally posted by wakiz
I fixed a similar model faucet about a week ago and my allen key fit right in. I am using a SAE set of allen keys that came with my socket set.

I looked in the hole and the hole is a circle . As for the easy out, I found a screw extractor on sears.com Item no. 00967362000 if the link doesn't work...

Is that what I need? How do I use that tool? Do I put it on my power drill?

You need the correct size drill bit , the easy out kit should say the exact size , preferably a new/sharp drill bit . You need to drill perfectly straight down the middle of the screw the distance the kit says to . You will then be able to turn the easy out into the resulting hole in a counterclockwise direction , the bit will auger in and then when it is too wide to continue will turn screw out . If your drilling is crooked you may damage the threads of the housing the screw is in and make extracation difficult . Dont go apecrap with the torque , as RT said the material the easy out is made of is very hard , if you break it in there it is a muther to remove then . Little wd-40 maybe to loosen it up while your aquiring these things
EDIT Checked the link , it says #12 to 5/16 , make sure screw isnt smaller than #12 . Most autoparts places have the ones for larger bolts , you may have to hit the local "carrys everything old timer place " hardware store to get one any smaller , and of course the web but that means waiting

[Mirclbob]

Go to the local Home depot, Menards, Lowes, Ace. They make a "rebuild kit" In the kit is a tool w/ correct allen wrench. Turn off water (H & C) under sink push handle back & tap the allen wrench fully into the hole. If you can get it fully seated the stipped outer edge of the hole won't matter. Then use a vise grip or channel locks to gently tighen & then loosen the allen screw. If it still won't loosen you can drill or dremmel right next to the allen screw and break the threads around the allen screw. New handle is $10-15. The spiral EZ out is a good idea but if you break the EZ out, you will need to destroy the handle to remove it.
Repair kit Link: http://www.mwh.com/prmw95/mwus/jsp/p...bPage=Plumbing

Handle Link:http://www.mwh.com/prmw95/mwus/jsp/p...bPage=Plumbing
Good luck, Bob

[ineedafan]

The best thing to do if it has to be worked on so much is just replace the faucet..By the time you by the extractors and other tools you could have had a new one anyway! You dont really like that one anyway it doesnt match your kitchen

[tenax]

the other thing that i've used that works and can be less hassle than the easyout method is to get a vice grip and use that..

[N!CK]

DUCT TAPE!!!

























Hmmm if that didn't work try gluing the screwdriver to the head witbh CA aka Crazy Glue

[palmboy5]

Originally posted by N!CK
Hmmm if that didn't work try gluing the screwdriver to the head witbh CA aka Crazy Glue [/B]

good idea!
but use the glue gun, the plastic will be more flexible so just a little tilt wont loosen the thing (no, crazy glue is no strong in that sense)

[horn4858]

a left hand drill bit. runs counterclockwise, when it gets a bite usually it will spin the screw out. just an idea, we use them a lot to remove broken bolts.