how does one drill out the head of a spinning screw?

[e9999]

Oh all yea machinist gods out there!
I've got this spinning screw/nutsert combo as described elsewhere.
I want to drill out the head but the screw is spinning as soon as I apply the drill.
The screw is buried into a plastic mount but before I destroy it so I can visegrip the screw and drill out or just plain saw it off, I thought I'd ask if there is any clever way of dealing with the problem that I didn't think about?
Not much room to do anything like chiseling a notch in the head to prevent rotation, unfortunately...
Superglue screwhead to plastic bracket maybe?

thoughts?

thx

E

 

[Scamper]

Sounds like you're removing your roof rack...

The most obvious way would be to hold the nutsert from below, but I'll assume you either can't get to it, or don't want to mess with it (e.g., headliner removal).

If you can't get any purchase on the screw head itself (e.g., if it's a flathead that's recessed), then you might be able to wedge a screwdriver or something under the lip to provide a little pressure to hold it in place. You might also try to epoxy, superglue, or loctite it.

If you have enough room, try a Dremmel. The cutoff wheel is great if you can get to it, or you can use one of the drill-type bits. The very high speed, with low application pressure ought to allow you to slowly grind it out.

Otherwise, just go ahead and bugger the plastic bit.


Edit: as I read further down, I see that it is indeed the roof rack. I like the idea of just spinning them out too. What little damage it will do will be fixed when you plug the holes anyway.

 

[RavenTai]

you can hold the bit at an angle and it sill still cut even if the screw spinns, takes a long time, the more angle the more cut

 

[e9999]

Sounds like you're removing your roof rack...

The most obvious way would be to hold the nutsert from below, but I'll assume you either can't get to it, or don't want to mess with it (e.g., headliner removal).

If you can't get any purchase on the screw head itself (e.g., if it's a flathead that's recessed), then you might be able to wedge a screwdriver or something under the lip to provide a little pressure to hold it in place. You might also try to epoxy, superglue, or loctite it.

If you have enough room, try a Dremmel. The cutoff wheel is great if you can get to it, or you can use one of the drill-type bits. The very high speed, with low application pressure ought to allow you to slowly grind it out.

Otherwise, just go ahead and bugger the plastic bit.


Edit: as I read further down, I see that it is indeed the roof rack. I like the idea of just spinning them out too. What little damage it will do will be fixed when you plug the holes anyway.

I like the idea of the Dremel. Will try that. Maybe grinding. May also try superglue.

What did you mean in this edit by spinning them out?

E

 

[e9999]

you can hold the bit at an angle and it sill still cut even if the screw spinns, takes a long time, the more angle the more cut

good idea too. Will try that as well.

e

 

[Scamper]

IWhat did you mean in this edit by spinning them out?

E

I was thinking that if you can't loosen it, try tightening it to the point where the nutsert starts spinning around. It will make the hole slightly larger, but you can fix it just as easily. Don't ask how I know this...

 

[Biff]

I would just use the Sears "Screw out" has helped me many a time with pesky screws.


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952154000&bidsite=CRAFT


I've also use this a few times.


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952158000&bidsite=CRAFT

 

[e9999]

I was thinking that if you can't loosen it, try tightening it to the point where the nutsert starts spinning around. It will make the hole slightly larger, but you can fix it just as easily. Don't ask how I know this...

dude, you gotta stop being so cryptic...!

you mean if you spin it long enough it will enlarge the hole and pop out?? Seems unlikely.

My last mount is a bit loose but that 'sert is spinning real smooth in there now... Seems pretty hopeless...

E

 

[e9999]

I would just use the Sears "Screw out" has helped me many a time with pesky screws.


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952154000&bidsite=CRAFT


I've also use this a few times.


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952158000&bidsite=CRAFT

well, thanks, but the screw is spinning, not stuck with the head damaged...

E

 

[Scamper]

E -

Not trying to be cryptic . What you said is exactly what I meant. Just spin the dickens out of it, maybe rocking it a little to loosen it up in the hole. At some point, it's gonna just pop out. I don't know the exact mechanism of why this worked for me in the past, but it seemed as if the metal in the crimped part of the nutsert just wore thru or burned thru. It could also have been the metal in the roof itself, but either way, the nutsert is out with minimal expansion of the hole. I did this on a Dodge Caravan I owned in the 80's. mea culpa...

Guess when I write quickly during these daytime hit-and-runs, I get a little too short with explanations.

EDIT: you don't want to push hard on the screw. Use a drill with a screwbit attached and go for speed, not for pressure. You want to generate a lot of friction with the speed. I applied too much pressure on one with the Dodge and ended up pushing the whole mess right thru the headliner...so be careful if you do this.

 

[e9999]

E -

Not trying to be cryptic . What you said is exactly what I meant. Just spin the dickens out of it, maybe rocking it a little to loosen it up in the hole. At some point, it's gonna just pop out. I don't know the exact mechanism of why this worked for me in the past, but it seemed as if the metal in the crimped part of the nutsert just wore thru or burned thru. It could also have been the metal in the roof itself, but either way, the nutsert is out with minimal expansion of the hole. I did this on a Dodge Caravan I owned in the 80's. mea culpa...

Guess when I write quickly during these daytime hit-and-runs, I get a little too short with explanations.

EDIT: you don't want to push hard on the screw. Use a drill with a screwbit attached and go for speed, not for pressure. You want to generate a lot of friction with the speed. I applied too much pressure on one with the Dodge and ended up pushing the whole mess right thru the headliner...so be careful if you do this.

Tom:
so you think the body of the nutsert is skinny enough that it will actually come out from the inside thouth the outside with only minimal hole enlargement? They must not have crimped this thing very much. Somehow I have a hunch this would not work with these. They look pretty beefy. And I think RT ended up pushing his in.
dang things!
E

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Eric,
the notsert will be no larger on the inside diameter than the lip on the outside diamater. they usually are ridged and the ridges fit tight, once you engage them they bubble out slightly against the sheet metal and hold on tight. if you can get a grip on the head of the nutsert you can spin them out adn then work out with some pliers.
HTH
Dave

 

[e9999]

thanks Dave.
Well, I'll find out shortly, getting set to start working on these lil' from top and bottom at the same time... I'll get the better of them yet!
e

 

[Scamper]

Dave is right on the size thing. Man, you're having a lot of trouble with these damn things! I'm beginning to think I was really lucky with mine.

But now you got me a bit confused... If you have access to the bottom of them as you've implied (headliner is now out?), just have someone hold the end of the nutsert from below with a vise grip or channel lock while you merrily drill from above. You may even be able to do it all yourself if you reach in thru the windows, though that might be a tad awkward. If you don't have access...then ignore this

 

[e9999]

Yes, have access to the lower side now, so that issue should be much easier to handle.

And yes, the whole thing is a PIA.

E

 

[big worm]

can you use a magnet?

 

[e9999]

can you use a magnet?

to prevent the screw from spinning??? hum... don't think I have one of those...

E