On May 3, 10:26 am, Abel Ortiz Monasterio <[email protected]> wrote: > I've seen mechanics tap them with a drill I don't know if you can get a bit > long enough
There are definitely drill bits long enough available at the hardware store. I have some 1/8" drill bits that are 10 - 12" long and I got them at Home Depot or Lowes. I forget why, but I needed them when I was wiring my house with 1/2 mile of network cable. While the "official" method of removing a stripped screw/bolt is to drill a hole in the bolt's shaft, tap the hole, and use a reverse threaded tap to turn the bolt out, I have found that simply drilling the head off of the bolt is usually sufficient, thus removing the two difficult parts of the operation. Drilling a hole in the narrow screw shaft is usually very challenging. Don't need to do that if you're just drilling the head off. Getting the reverse tap to work and not break is usually challenging. No need to do that either. Additionally, if you're just drilling the head off the screw, you can use a much thicker drill bit, because you're not trying to drive it down the center of the screw shaft. Just don't drill too far. That last bit will be challenging with the screw deep in the Mac's handle. You want to drill through the screw head just until you reach the screw shaft. If you're using a bit which is slightly wider than the screw shaft, this will cause the screw head to separate from the screw shaft, and then the screw won't be holding the Mac together any more. After you get the head off the screw, the screw will no longer hold the mac (or other object) together. Disassemble it. Once it is disassembled, there should be 1/4" or so of the screw shaft sticking out of the hole, which was previously passing through the removed component. You can just grab this exposed 1/4" with a channel lock pliers and turn it out. With the object disassembled, the tension will be off of the screw and chances are, you can turn it out easily with your fingers, without a channel lock. Or you can hack saw a groove in the end of the shaft, and use a flat head screwdriver to turn it out, if it is really stuck (someone used lok-tite, e.g.). -- ----- You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To leave this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintage-macs Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
