Screw help needed please

jimpwarsop

comperinha said:

My contribution is that you might try some kind of silicone mat used as a trivet which might give an extra bit of grip. Might possibly save you the trouble of buying something tomorrow during English Sunday trading laws.

A thick elastic band often gives increased traction, between slot and bit.

Daisy_84

FreeBear said:

Daisy_84 said:

FreeBear said:

Daisy_84 said: I didn’t realise that kitchen sink taps would be so tightly screwed that I’d end up destroying there screw.

Sometimes, you'll come across a left hand thread. It might be worth trying to "tightening" this screw up and see if it will move.

Now that’s confusing. It sounds counterintuitive. Are you being sarcastic?

Not being sarcastic at all. Left hand threads are a thing, and I'm trying to think where you might find one in an average household. About the best I can think of is wheel nuts on certain vehicles.

Thank you. It’s a new concept to me. I’ll look into it.

Daisy_84

grumbler said:

One of bicycle pedals. Some circular saws.

In fact they are very rare and are used for a reason. I don't see such reason for a usual tap.

Regarding a damaged Philips screw, sometimes you can restore the slot to some degree by drilling a small 1.5-2mm hole in the middle of the cross (thus making it deeper in the centre) and then hammering a new hard screwdriver bit (not impact one, they are soft) into the damaged slot.

Thank you.

Le_Kirk

FreeBear said:

Daisy_84 said: I didn’t realise that kitchen sink taps would be so tightly screwed that I’d end up destroying there screw.

Sometimes, you'll come across a left hand thread. It might be worth trying to "tightening" this screw up and see if it will move.

Daisy_84 said:

FreeBear said:

Daisy_84 said: I didn’t realise that kitchen sink taps would be so tightly screwed that I’d end up destroying there screw.

Sometimes, you'll come across a left hand thread. It might be worth trying to "tightening" this screw up and see if it will move.

Now that’s confusing. It sounds counterintuitive. Are you being sarcastic?

By the way I am left handed. 

It is nothing to do with whether you are left-handed or right handed, nor is it a slur on anything to do with the person, nor is it sarcasm!  Sometimes a LH thread is required if the general use would tend to loosen the fixing, such as wheel nuts on cars as stated earlier.  The way to decide (and you can only do this when you have the recalcitrant screw in your hand is to grasp it in you fist and see if the direction of the thread lines up with the thumb when grasped in your left hand or your right hand.

Bendy_House

Is your screwdriver in good condition, Daisy?

If the edges of the (presumably) PZ2 tip aren't nice and defined, then it may be worth treating yourself to a new set, especially as you are up for DIYing such jobs.

Place the screwdriver in position, and gently-firmly give the handle a series of taps in order to drive the tip in a fraction more, and to hopefully tidy up the mangled part a wee bit. Brass - the screw material (so it doesn't rust) - is a lot softer than the (presumably) 'hardened' tip of the screwdriver, so should slightly reform the 'slot'. Also, such taps might help to loosen - 'break the seal' around the screw thread. So try that first.

Then, both hands on the 'driver, firm grip, try and keep it steady - straight line in to the screw - push it in firmly, and undo anti-clock as normal (very unlikely to be a LH thread).

Does your screwdriver shaft or handle have a 'hex' part designed to take a spanner to help turn it? If it does, and you have the tools, then the ideal way would be to add this spanner to the shaft, and then use one hand to press the 'driver in firmly, and the other turns the spanner - that way the 'driver doesn't wobble, which is what often causes screw heads to be mangled.

If that fails, get your drill and fit a bit sized smaller that the screw head, but larger than the screw thread - so 5mm-ish? Nice sharp example. Now hold the drill in both hands, with one supporting the drill shaft as close to the chuck as possible, and with the back/side of that hand then being supported by the sink top - place something under your hand to raise it to the exact required height if possible. The idea is to have the drill body under FIRM control so it doesn't wobble.

Now fire up the drill at a fair rate, and SLOWLY - and holding the drill firmly in control - bring the drill tip into GENTLE contact with the centre of the screw head. You will likely find that the drill will 'shudder' slightly as it first makes contact with the uneven screw head, so anticipate this. Even watch for it trying to 'jump' out of this first contact - hold firmly! Slow first contact.

The drill will then start to cut the V in to the head's centre. Once it's gone deep enough - 5mm-ish - the head should just pop off. Very satisfying. 

Pull off handle - it could be tight on the splines - and gently use grips to unscrew the remaining screw shaft.

Add a new screw to your shopping list.

It'll take less time to do than read

GDB2222

I have no idea where to get a replacement screw?

When using a screwdriver, it’s really important to press inwards as hard as possible whilst turning. That helps to avoid mangling the screw and the driver. 

A plumber would probably suggest a new tap at this stage. A more economical solution may be to replace both tap heads with something like this 
https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-h51-a-1-2-bathroom-basin-lever-tap-reviver-kit/9745p

diamond_dave

My old dad always told me to tighten any screws first before using a hammer against the screw head.This breaks the seal and makes it easier to remove. Always use the right size screwdriver.

Bendy_House

diamond_dave said:

My old dad always told me to tighten any screws first before using a hammer against the screw head.This breaks the seal and makes it easier to remove. Always use the right size screwdriver.

That's a good tip, as it can compensate for a bad one - drrrrrrrrrr-cheeeesh!

Cough.

I mean, when a screw head is mangled like that, it's almost always in the 'undoing' direction, so further UNscrewing is unlikely to get you anywhere. But a clockwise 'tighten' will still likely have the full purchase available, and if you can get that screw to move at ALL, then the sticky-seal will hopefully be broken.

Worth a go indeed.

Bendy_House

eBay has packs of 10 screws for £3. Good chance the replacement cartridge will come from there too.

Daisy, you HAVE turned the water off to that tap, haven't you?

GDB2222

Bendy_House said:

eBay has packs of 10 screws for £3. Good chance the replacement cartridge will come from there too.

Daisy, you HAVE turned the water off to that tap, haven't you?

Interesting. Are they all the same thread and size?