i frayed a screw!!!

[elavate7]

i was trying to open the battery slot on my bass to change the battery with an electric drill. i guess i drilled it too hard and now the screw is fryed.... wht do i do?

[David1234]

Take up guitar?

[Jools4001]

Better yet, have you tried being a drummer?

[elavate7]

Originally Posted by Jools4001

Better yet, have you tried being a drummer?

i cant drum, but i can play a little guitar lol. so theres nothing i can do about the screw????

[snyderz]

Go to the hardware store and buy an extractor. Don't use power tools on fine instruments.

[David1234]

More seriously: the fix depends what you've actually done.

Specifically:
- have you hurt the screw's thread? You probably need an "Easy Out" to remove it so you can replace it.
- have you wrecked the timber's thread inside the hole? Break off a bit of match stick to put in next time you put the screw in. Oh, and don't use an electric drill as a screwdriver on a guitar - timber is soft and you only need things finger-tight, not "really tight".

[Munjibunga]

Now wait ... is the screw frayed or fryed [sic]? Which?

[elavate7]

i meant frayed.....im sorry, i didnt use a drill, i used an electric screwdriver....

[elgecko]

Was it a 12v drill? I hear your guitarist is planning on getting a 19.6v...you should totally get an impact driver/compressor!

You MIGHT be able to GENTLY tap a slightly-too-large tool (e.g. screwdriver, allen key, etc) into the "frayed" screw head. BTW, fray is something you do to your jeans...the word you're looking for is "stripped"

[Slax]

You can always use a drimmel to create the screw head into a "standard" flat head using a mini cut off wheel. It works for everything you might need. (Because it's too rusted, already f'ed up, or you f'ed it up. ) Just use the mini cut off wheel and the drimmel to make a place for a larger flat head screw driver to screw into and you should be fine.

After you get the screw out, replace it with something new.

This has saved me any of a time on many things.

Side note, but hopefully lesson learned... Never use any electric powered tool on your instrument unless specifically needed or modding. Day to day maintenance should never require it.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by elavate7

i meant frayed.....im sorry, i didnt use a drill, i used an electric screwdriver....

Originally Posted by elavate7

i was trying to open the battery slot on my bass to change the battery with an electric drill. i guess i drilled it too hard and now the screw is fryed.... wht do i do?

[otis_thick]

If its not too bad, get som sand and mix it with a drop of transmission fluid. find the correct size screw driver. Put a little dab of the sand and transmission fluid and put it in the top of the stripped screw. Put good pressure down on the screwdriver and slowly try to just loosen the screw at first

If you really screwed the screw, you can get something like this http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index....ROD&ProdID=380. They have them in drug stores of all places.

[JoZac21]

[SamanthaCay]

Plus one on the on using a dremel, that's spelled dremel although a steady hand would be required. As far as the comments on not using power tools on fine instruments. Maybe you should try and tell that to Billy Sheehan.

[tjmdetroit]

You don't know what the handymans secret weapon is....shame on you....remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they ought to find you handy. Keep your stick on the ice eh?

[Pilgrim]

I recommend a Sawz-All. Guaranteed to remove that pesky screw.

[JDJen]

Originally Posted by otis_thick

If its not too bad, get som sand and mix it with a drop of transmission fluid. find the correct size screw driver. Put a little dab of the sand and transmission fluid and put it in the top of the stripped screw. Put good pressure down on the screwdriver and slowly try to just loosen the screw at first

If you really screwed the screw, you can get something like this http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index....ROD&ProdID=380. They have them in drug stores of all places.

Hmmm. Never thought of doing that, sounds like it might work.

However.... I have used a Dremel before too but not to cut new slots because that would have also cut the battery cover. I have used them to grind out the head of the screw so I can get the cover off then use a pair of needle nose pliers and take it the rest of the way out.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by elavate7

i was trying to open the battery slot on my bass to change the battery with an electric drill. i guess i drilled it too hard and now the screw is fryed.... wht do i do?

if easy outs will work on screws that small????...if not you can carefully drill the head of the screw off with a bigger bit leaving just the shaft.....remove the other screws (by hand this time) and remove the cover plate.....there should be enough of the shaft left above the surface to grip with vice grips.....i don't know why guys insist on torqued down battery box covers.....snug is lots and any more than that can lead to problems

[Jazzdogg]

Believe it or not, I've often been able to remove messed up phillips-head screws using an impact driver; don't even bother if your screwdriver tip is damaged or is the wrong size.

[Steveaux]

Time to get out the torch ...