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Busted Phillips Screws

one of the lugs on my speakers came loose , so I used a power screw driver to remove the Phillips screws holding the plate in the back. 3 out of the six screws came out fine. The other three had the indentaions smashed, now I am stuck with three phillips screws that I can get out. Will seek the advice of someone more mechanically inclined then myself, but any advice is appreciated. My thought is to take a drill and destroy the screws completely. However I wont do anything until I consult with a few friends. THX
darrylhifi
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
next time, try tightening a bit before attempting to loosen. I learned this trick from an old pro machinist many years ago; still works the last time I needed to uncover an amp that just wouldn't cooperate.
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
There are also products called "Easy Outs" that are used to remove bolts whose heads have snapped off or been rounded. (They look like funky drill bits.) I don't know if these would work for your application, though. At hardware store or a good automotive supply store. Keep us posted if you use that Craftsman device. I'm sure that there are many others, besides myself, here on Agon who are curious if this "goober" really works! Keep you woofers a woofin'`and your tweeters a tweetin'!
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
Like Fatparrot said, they are called Easy Outs. First you have to drill a hole into the screw head so you can fit the easy out in there. The easy out is nothing more than a coarse, reverse threaded screw. They do work well if you know how to use them. If you are unfamiliar with them, I suggest you practice on a screw first, and then attempt the project at hand.
herman
2,267 posts
 
Be careful if you do decide to drill. The metal shavings may be attracted to the speaker magnet. If they get in around the voice coil you could have big trouble.
chichiuno
118 posts
 
As a pro, drill it carefully with a drill slighty larger than the threaded part of the screw, you just want to take the heads off, do it to the rest of the stripped heads......... then you will be able to remove the plate, when you remove the plate the threads of the now drilled screws will be pertruding. use a vise grip to remove the screws. walla! damage free! get new screws and your done, and forget the power screw driver, when you install the new ones!
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