Okay, so I managed to snap a TINY screw in half... Help?

[s3v3n]

ok guys, this is kinda a stupid question, but hopefully somebody can help me out

i managed to snap a screw in half (must have been slightly cross-threaded) and need to get the remaining half of it the out!

my problem is that the screw is pretty small... perhaps an 1/8th inch in diameter. none of the 'easy-outs' that i have or have seen are this small... does a super-tiny easy-out exist?

this isnt really a situation where it can be heated or re-tapped afterwards either. the screw also broke off inside the hole, so there isnt anything protruding to grab hold of.

is there anything i can do besides just trying to drill it out and probably wrecking the threads in the hole?

any help or suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.
thanks all

 

[1gcrazy]

I'm pretty sure they have Reverse screws. Try and find a reverse screw, drill a hole large enough to take one and use it as an easy out.
That's pretty much youre only option as far as I can see...

 

[flashburn02]

If you own a dremmel you can use a small disc to cut a notch in the portion of the screw hanging out. I am not sure baised on your post that there is a surface to cut into.

Also I have done this one before but its dangerous:
Put a TINY dallop of JBweld or other metal epoxy on the end of the screw that you still have access to. Screw it down ontop of the broken half in the hole. Let is sit for a day and try to run it out. This is really risky because if it is cross threaded it isn't coming out with glue.

You really probably will need to drill it and tap it again.

 

[kmoore]

If you own a dremmel you can use a small disc to cut a notch in the portion of the screw hanging out. I am not sure baised on your post that there is a surface to cut into.

Dang you beat me to it!

What was the part that broke the bolt off in?

 

[s3v3n]

I'm pretty sure they have Reverse screws. Try and find a reverse screw, drill a hole large enough to take one and use it as an easy out.
That's pretty much youre only option as far as I can see...

thats an interesting idea... they may not make tiny easy-outs, but i bet they might make tiny reverse threaded screws!
the screw in question seems to be made out of a pretty soft material, so the super strength of an easy-out may not be needed as much (a normal screw would probably hold up fine).
looks like ill be hunting for some reverse screws tonight, thanks

If you own a dremmel you can use a small disc to cut a notch in the portion of the screw hanging out. I am not sure baised on your post that there is a surface to cut into.

Also I have done this one before but its dangerous:
Put a TINY dallop of JBweld or other metal epoxy on the end of the screw that you still have access to. Screw it down ontop of the broken half in the hole. Let is sit for a day and try to run it out. This is really risky because if it is cross threaded it isn't coming out with glue.

You really probably will need to drill it and tap it again.

the screw is broken off inside the hole... so there isnt anything to notch with my dremel

the jb weld is an interesting idea... but with such a small surface to apply it to (and the broken half being inside the hole) any jb weld that squeezed out from between the 2 halves would act like super loc-tite and id be screwed (no pun intended)

 

[Defiant]

Where IS this screw? Is it accessible? Check your local hardware stores for a small, left-hand drill bit, and use it in a reversing drill to take the broken part out.

 

[s3v3n]

Well, I've looked all over town, but nobody seems to have reverse threaded screws
One company may be able to order them in... if I order several hundred at a time

Where IS this screw? Is it accessible? Check your local hardware stores for a small, left-hand drill bit, and use it in a reversing drill to take the broken part out.

The screw is actually in my emu, so its quite accessible now that I've taken the entire unit out. I'll try looking for a reverse bit, but I'm not sure it'll be able to get the screw out before simply drilling through it (I think the screw must be slightly cross threaded or something).

Btw, pm'd ya

 

[Defiant]

You've been screwing an ostrich's cousin?

 

[guitarhero14]

You've been screwing an ostrich's cousin?

, wow.

 

[1gcrazy]

, wow.

Agreed +1

One company may be able to order them in... if I order several hundred at a time

Whos up for a group buy?

 

[s3v3n]

Agreed +1

+2!
Hahaha... sorry guys, I guess e.m.u./EMU is not a common acronym used on this board?
Contrary to what is now popular belief, the screw is actually snapped inside an E-Manage Ultimate, not my alluring feathered friend.

 

[Defiant]

If you can get to it, drill it out from the other side with a normal drill bit. Otherwise, you'll need a left-handed one. If it's too tiny, you may want to use a pin vise instead of a powered drill.

 

[saintsairforce]

Another possible idea is to drill with as big of a drill bit you can with out touching the treads. And then from there either try and collapse the remaining piece using a nail or other small piece of metal. If you have access to some of the screw on the back side try using neddle vise grips and keep screwing the screw until it comes out by going right through.

 

[s3v3n]

If you can get to it, drill it out from the other side with a normal drill bit. Otherwise, you'll need a left-handed one. If it's too tiny, you may want to use a pin vise instead of a powered drill.

Don't have any access from the other side unfortunately. Good call on pin vice though; I was going to just use a dremel on low power, but the pin vice might be a safer bet.

Another possible idea is to drill with as big of a drill bit you can with out touching the treads. And then from there either try and collapse the remaining piece using a nail or other small piece of metal.

Yeah this will be my last option I guess (I know I'll manage to make a mess of the hole if I try this haha).

 

[tkelly27]

Just leave it out? ECU's can be pretty tough