Bolt/screw stuck fast - please help!

Badgergal

I am trying to take the front off my electric shower to fix constant running water and dripping (elec and water switched off) but the screw/bolt thing holding it on is stuck fast and neither me nor my boyf can turn it, the head is also looking messed up from whoever did it before if you know what I mean so we cannot get much of a grip.

I have heard heat might help but it is a plastic shower it's screwed into so it might melt. We are so desperate and cannot afford a professional really, please help!

alanobrien

You can try soaking it with WD40.......

Badgergal

We've already tried that but it doesn't seem to have done much and it's been on a few hours...thanks.

glosman555

You could try this.
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50492647

culpepper

Sometimes tightening a screw will make the hole a little bit bigger and then it will undo.
OH has even had to cut new grooves in screw heads when they have been ruined,before he could get them off.

Badgergal

It's still stuck fast...any ideas? Help!

Ronn1e_2

Try drilling the screw/bolt head off, very carefully.

alanobrien

Apart from heat which may be dodgy here, the only thing that i can think of that may shift it is an impact driver.
But you would need to be carefull using it.

If your not familiar with what they are this is what they look
like;

http://www.powertoolwarehouse.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/89_306/products_id/883?osCsid=0a9520a4ac9c83057cc3e69b44a1232f

You can generally pick them up for less than a tenner at places like halfords bandq and maybe even woolies these days.

Badgergal

The boyf wants to drill into it and is going to come over tomorrow with his drill...I will have a look for the impact driver first though.

It's so frustrating, trying to save money by not calling someone out but the simplest thing stands in the way before we can even get at the part in the shower...we have tried with it most of the weekend to no avail.

Badgergal

The screw extractor didn't work and I haven't found an impact driver yet...it is so frustrating. Feeling a bit rubbish as now I've wasted a tenner on the screw extractor kit...am I wasting my time, should I pay someone to sort it out?

lynsiloo

Persevere, don't pay someone. I would also do what Ronn1e suggested. Completely drill off the head of the screw so that all you are left with is the thin shank part of the screw. This should then let you remove the cover from the shower. Once the cover is removed you should then be able to see more of the remaining shank of the screw. You can now try to get some pliers or even better Mole Grips on the shank and try to remove it. If that doesn't work you could do as culpepper suggested and cut a groove in the remaining shank to allow you to use a flat blade screwdriver. Good luck.