'Grabit' Damaged Screw Remover

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Plan_B

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\'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

This is a double-ended bit that is placed in the chuck of a power drill and used to remove screws with damaged heads.

Apparently one end cuts into the damaged head forming a cone, then the other end of the bit is driven anti-clockwise into the cone and busted screw can then be withdrawn. There a picture of a pair of these on the Lawson HS wesite.

My question is, has anyone used this tool, and in particular on a stainless steel screw. I find that doing anything with stainless steel is difficult because the metal is so hard.

Connected to the earlier Teak Plug thread, I have to remove some screws from my teak deck to replace them - but the heads are chewed up and thats the only bit I can get at without tearing up the planks.

I don't want to buy a tool that won't do the job.

DD
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I don't know the tool but I bet in practice it don't work. Sorry, its not what you want to hear, but save your money.

I know you may not be responsible and this is thread drift, but to avoid damaged screw heads, identify the head type. Only use a Phillips driver in a Phillips screw or a Pozidrive driver in a Pozidrive screw. Use a quality driver in perfect line with the screw and ignore DIY drivers that claim to handle 'all cross head screws'.

With conventional screws use the correct size screwdriver.

I'm don't mean to preach but a lot of agro can be saved by using the proper tools. I spent 20 years in the tool business getting this message across to professional users.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I've got one and it worked a treat on extracting a badly burred pozi, about M8 IIRC.

Later used it on another job and broke the bit /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Then I noticed that it had a "lifetime guarantee" One phone call later and Boa Tools sent me a new one by return /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Very handy thing to have in the boat's tool bag.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Hummm. I have something like it, from the Trend range. It's basically a left handed, two flute drill ground to an angle suitable for extracting screws by biting into the slot or pozi. form. They work to a fashion, bit hit and miss but with everything stainless slow speeds rule!

Good luck
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Saw the ad. and thought it a great tool. Have ordered one, paid extra for fast delivery. That was 3 weeks ago, still hasn't arrived...but we are at the assend of nowhere here as far as the postal system is concerned!
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I have never tried one of the tools that you mention but tend to be a bit sceptical of 'extractors'...I take it you have considered using an 'impact driver'. I've had reasonable success with one of these if there is good access and the head/slot is not too badly damaged.

Good luck, Nick
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

The stainless is normally not too hard, but work hardens rapidly, good quality drills would be a bet, but failing that, cut around the screw head with a plug cutter and try and get it out that way, or make your self a "hole cutter" out of a piece of pipe, with teeth cut on it, just bigger than the head of the screw and long enough to cut around the screw to the depth required to just pull the knackered screw out, then open up the hole to a size of teak plug you have and drive plugs into the hole with epoxy, clean up when it sets and refit a new screw and plug, or just put a screw in a different place. Those "Grabit" thingies are ok as far as they go.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Axminster Tools http://www.axminster.co.uk/ offer three alternatives. I've used the cheapest (catalogue number 810031 - £2.12) with some success on mashed up stainless screws. Axminster have an excellent reputation and I'm certainly thinking of "investing" in one of the higher-spec kits: Cat No 200295 at £6.82 or Cat No 600533 at £8.62. No, I'm not on commission!
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Before you invest in this.

Have you tried using a variety of quality crosshead drivers ,tapping each into place ?
When you have found the one with a really snug fit(eg it will stand up reallysecurely in place,no wobble at all) ,grind the other end off flat,smack it hard with a lumphammer once and then using either the screwdriver socket or impact wrench try turning clockwise first.

Another trick is to press very firmly with your chest on the screwdriver holder but apply the turning force (clockwise) using a pair of vicegrips clamped to the bit. This will give you very precise controlled torque.

Once the screw shifts (haha) rotate it back and forth a bit to loosen and then unwind it.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I bought the equivalent from Homebase. I can imagine it might work where screws are not corroded tight, but it didnt work for me when I was trying to get a s/s screw out of the Al pedestal.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I have bought all three types from Axminster, and now stick with the cheapest because they all snap, you just get drill bits with the dearer ones.
I am just completing refastening of 44' carvel boat, with very old bronze screws. Once the head is clean of stopping putty I use a meaty impact driver, usually disintergrates the head, but have managed to get a few dozen out that way. 2nd option is drill 2mm hole down centre of screw (not always easy to keep in the centre) then use the smallest of the extractors. With time you get to know how much force they will take before snapping, frustrating when the screw itself snaps mid length, then it has to be doubled or cut out with small hole saw and plugged.

I've got plenty of the large extractors spare if anyone is interested, I'm probably on my 20th set /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Some really good solutions there, thanks guys. I'm going to print the thread and work out which is the best option. For the sake of experience I shall probably buy one of the Axminster kits and see what it does - I don't feel comfortable working with stainless - but its a lovely metal. I really like the submission from Englander which is brilliant - I may not even have to make cutter from a pipe if I can purchase a stock size plug cutter somewhere.

DD
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

E-Z-Out are generally used for sheared off bolts etc... They are reckoned in the motorcycle world to cause more trouble than they solve, since they break off frequently. The resultant broken E-Z-Out is harder and so can't be drilled out like the original bolt could have been....
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

I broke an E-Z-Out in a stud on my prop and can testify that they are impossible to drill out. Took prop to a good engineering workshop where they used a spark errosion machine to remove the stud and E-Z-Out.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

snap-on used to sell some extractors that are parallel, fluted/splined thingys. drill a hole down the centre, tap one in & then try to turn it - sposed to avoid the jamming-it-tighter of the tapered ones; also they had a section that broke well above the hole before the main extractor broke, so if that happened, you just gripped the extractor with moles or whatever & pulled it out again.
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

Back in the 50s, a friend of mine got a job with a company that made special tools to shatter broken screw extractors. Have not seen him since, so don't know if they still exist.

Philip
 
Re: \'Grabit\' Damaged Screw Remover

[ QUOTE ]
snap-on used to sell some extractors that are parallel, fluted/splined thingys

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true, but only suitable for machine screws, not self tapers or wood screws. Another benefit, as they come with a drill guide to drill the hole centrally in the screw/stud, if the extractor would not shift the broken bit, you have a centred hole to enlarge for re tapping.
 
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