Stripped Hex Screw Head

[dpvu]

I need to shorten the barrel on my ICS M4A1 and there's 3 very small hex screws that hold it in place near the front sight. I can get the bottom 2 screws out but it looks like the top one has become stripped. How can I remove this now? I've looked up some solutions and it appears I can drill into it but I'm not sure that's a good idea with the barrel and ideally I'd like to be able to use this screw again once I get it out since there's only 3 and I don't have an extra.

[Murdoch]

Well, you're screwed (heehee). Unless you can use needle nose pliers to twist it out, you are probably going to have to drill. I would try these first:

Mastercraft Maximum Grab-IT 4-piece Set @ www.canadiantire.ca

Depending on how small your screw is, they're work quite well. If it's too small, you'll have to drill a small hole and use a screw extractor:

http://homerepair.about.com/od/inter..._extractor.htm

I've never had any luck with these things. Your hole has to be dead center, and I always break them anyway.

Another thing you might try. If you have a dremel, cut a slot across the top of the screw and using a slot screwdriver to turn it out.

As a last resort, find out what size the screw is, drill right through with the appropriate size for tapping, and re-tap the hole. Depending on your luck, you may have to tap out to a size bigger than original.

Good luck bud...

[m102404]

I'm assuming the hex head is stripped and not the screw hole.

If it's just rounded out and the next allen key size up is too big, try a different shaped bit (i.e. torx or square). If you're using imperial keys, try metric, or vice versa. I picked up a nice "micro" bit set that have tapered bits, useful for getting mangled screws out. It's a little set that has hex, torx, and other assorted one.

If you get a bit that is a tight fit, give it a little tap with hammer (or heavy-ish wrench) to set the bit in the stripped out screw head. Then while applying downward pressure to keep the bit solidly in the screw head, slowly rotate the screw out.

If you can get a really fine triangle shaped file (almost like a jewelers file), you might be able to get a grip on/in the screw head. The triangle profile seems to be just right for getting a stripped hex head out, and a file is really hard and will "bite" into the screw metal.

If it's loc-tited in place, try heating it for a bit with a lighter (don't have anything that will melt/burn touching that part) to soften the "glue". Or a soldering iron. Don't heat the screw directly, heat the surrounding metal.

Good luck!

[Danke]

There's a whole world of possible solutions to pull a damaged screw but the first thing you need to do is erase any hint from mind that you will re-assmble it with a damaged screw, if you get lucky and pull it once that's great but it gets tossed after as soon as it's out.

Maybe a new hex key or some lapping compound on the screw will do the deed. Can you post up a nice clear macro picture?

[Blastyman]

In the past I have use the dremel cutting a slot in to turn with screwdriver but another method which has worked for me in the past is just to tap the next size hex key into the hole.

I said tap not pound! If they screw isn't too tight this will quite often work.

[Turd]

try going up a size in the hex key then filing it down to fit, if u don't mind sacrificing a a hex key that is

[demco11]

Take a hex key thats a size up or whatever and use a hammer to hit it in softly untill its good in there... I use that method with many stripped/rusted screws and it works. Usually when I repair someones patio sliding door the screw to adjust the wheel in the bottom has a rusted out screw or 2 and I resort to the hammer method untill its good in there and then a unscrew it and replace with a new one.

[Kos-Mos]

The safest method is using Torx.

The second safest is the dremel and flat screw driver. (If you have a steady hand).

[swatt13]

i usually use the smallest flat screw driver from a precision screw driver set. always works for me. you may need to "tap it into place" useing a hammer or something to get it seated in there good.

[Skruface]

I've also used a bit of blue locktite on the tip of the screwdriver/hexkey, inserted it into the hex head while still wet, let it dry, then backed out the screw. You can heat it up after you remove it and pop the screw off.