this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
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Right to Repair

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Whether it be electronics, automobiles or medical equipment, the manufacturers should not be able to horde “oem” parts, render your stuff useless if you repair it with aftermarket parts, or hide schematics of their products.

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I stripped this screw in my laptop and as such can't open the back cover to replace parts.

Things I've tried: -Different size/type screwdrivers -Rubber band -Hammer -Hot glue gun

Edit: got it unsuck. Thanks everyone for the advice

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[–] Grumpydaddy 14 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)
  1. Strong down force with the appropriate screwdriver (looks like it started out as a Phillips head) while turning the driver with a wrench. You need a square shaft in your screwdriver or clamp with vice grips.

  2. Same, strong down force, but use a square driver ( Robertson screw). This can also be accompanied with a wrench.

  3. Drill it out. This is pretty much the last resort as you will use a drill bit about the same size as the threads which will pretty much take the head of the screw off as you drill into the threads. The threads probably won't come out but you will at least be able to open the case. I have had very little luck with screw extractors and they probably don't come that small.

Strong down force is the main thing I have found to work when breaking loose pesky screws. Pushing down hard enough to prevent the bit from skipping to the next slot

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Same, strong down force, but use a square driver ( Robertson screw).

Oh, Canada.

[–] Grumpydaddy 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

The US missed out on both the Robertson screw head and the metric system!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

And pozidrive!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

We use Robertson here. Mostly for cabinet work, but we still use it. I've actually been switching a lot of the screws in my house with them. (Was built in 1970.) Even used them to fix my vacuum recently in the same situation as OP's.