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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?

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 👍

Luci ,
@Luci@lemmy.ca avatar

Rubber band?

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

Tried to no avail.

Cooljimy84 ,
@Cooljimy84@lemmy.world avatar

Depending how tight it is you could superglue something to it to turn it ?

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

I don’t really have superglue right now, and the screw looks like this far up, not sure it can be called tight or not.

https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/d9dff2e0-7ca7-4b7a-bd26-2817f89e910b.jpeg

(Screwdriver for comparison, couldn’t really find something better.)

Broken_Monitor ,

Pretty much this - depending how much surface area and how good the glue is you might get it or you might snap that right off too. If it fails the next step is to carefully drill the screw out. A somewhat riskier operation but itll get it open

A_Union_of_Kobolds ,

That would have to be a pretty loose screw

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.

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.

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.)

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.

flashily_ripcord590 ,

Amazon search for tiny screw extractor.

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