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How can I get a screw like this out?

I decided on cleaning my laptop fans today, which I’ve been procrastinating for about a year now because of this one screw. But I just can’t seem to open this with my screwdriver, since whatever I did back when I last opened it it’s nearly circular now. Is there a way to unscrew this?

gibmiser ,

Take the drill bit out of your drill. Open the chuck up all the way and place it over the screw. If there is enough screw head there you might be able to grab it with the drill and just unscrew.

vxx ,

Looks like a screwdriver with a slit and the right size might still be able to grab it.

MTK ,

Try addinv a rubber band between the screw and the screwdriver, it adds friction which sometimes (usually not) helps

AsakuraMao ,

Ask Frieren to do it for you

fernlike3923 OP ,
@fernlike3923@sh.itjust.works avatar

I believe I have become a skilled enough mage, so I’d prefer solving this on my own.

ganksy ,
@ganksy@lemmy.world avatar

If you have one of the other screws, and you’re dead sure it’s the same size, you can use a tiny drill bit that is the size of the screw’s shaft minus the threads. Careful drill through the center. The Phillips divit should center your bit.

You might only use this after trying the others here.

Brkdncr ,

Jb weld a nut to it.

Tippon ,

From the two photos you’ve posted, it looks like there’s a little bit of the grooves left in the top of the screw, but not enough for your screwdriver to grip.

Try the rubber band trick first, mainly because it doesn’t cost you anything other than a rubber band to try. The combination of the little bits of the grooves and the grip from the band might do it.

If it doesn’t, a sacrificial screwdriver might work. You basically need to file off the pointy tip of the screwdriver until it can reach what’s left of the grooves, and unscrew it with a bit of downward pressure.

Good luck 👍

RattlerSix ,

If you didn’t have a Dremel, try channel lock pliers or vise grips. It’s not going to be in there right and rusted or anything, you just need something to grip it.

quixotic120 ,

Put a rubber band between screwdriver and screw, otherwise the other things already stated like CA glue, filing a flathead groove, or drilling the cap off

in the future use the appropriate sized driver and retire drivers when they become stripped

j4k3 ,
@j4k3@lemmy.world avatar

This. The rubber band trick works well for the first step. I came to say this.

Kolanaki ,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

Is the groove for the screwdriver filled in? 🤨

Maybe just chisel out your own grooves to use whatever style driver you like. Should be doable with a dremel if you have a small enough cutting wheel.

Waveform ,

Maybe try using a file to make flat sides on the outside of the head so you can use a wrench on it? (Not sure if that would be better or worse than the Dremel/slot idea… you would risk scratching the surface of the object it’s on.)

Luci ,
@Luci@lemmy.ca avatar

Rubber band?

fernlike3923 OP ,
@fernlike3923@sh.itjust.works avatar

Tried to no avail.

DaddleDew ,

Carefully dremel a slot in the screw head and use a flat head screwdriver.

Make sure you don’t get any dust into the electronics.

ArbitraryValue ,

They make screw extractor bits with thread that winds the opposite way from the screw itself so that the bit drills into the screw while turning counterclockwise, but I don’t think that’s worth bothering with here (and I’ve never seen an extractor small enough). Just drill the head off with a normal drill bit. The body will stay stuck in the hole, but you’ll be able to take the cover off and laptops are usually held together by so many screws that a missing one won’t cause problems.

un_aristocrate ,

With a screw extractor, you’ll find one at any hardware store.

fernlike3923 OP ,
@fernlike3923@sh.itjust.works avatar

I will check out a hardware store in the morning, didn’t really know about those, thanks! Though is it a tiny bit possible to get this out in some kind of DIY way too?

brap ,

An expendable torx driver makes for a good remover of screws like these.

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