Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

On 4/13/2011 1:41 PM, Bob wrote:
....

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

The right kind... ( sorry, couldn't resist)

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
....

I don't have a link at hand but I've seen sites that have various of
these available online.

If indeed a Torx would fit the outer, I'd possibly try to modify one to
work. Some of the cheapies at the $1 tool bin are likely candidates to
be soft enough can drill and not out anything if screw it up.

Pictures are, of course, always useful in such sitchyashuns for
eyeballing and engendering ideas...

--

Harbor Freight is your friend.
http://www.harborfreight.com/33-piec...set-93388.html
Look for "security screw" or "security" and you'll find bits
that will help with your project.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Bob" wrote in message
...
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave
door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the
internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place
are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a
lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the
cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but
they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from
engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the
center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

On Apr 13, 3:04*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
Harbor Freight is your friend.
* *http://www.harborfreight.com/33-piec...set-93388.html
Look for "security screw" or "security" and you'll find bits
that will help with your project.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
*www.lds.org
.

"Bob" wrote in message

...
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave
door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the
internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place
are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a
lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the
cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but
they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from
engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the
center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Yes, agree with the above, which is what I was thinking. I have
one of the HF kits and it's well worth having. Think it only
cost me $8 or so and it has like a 100 various security bits.
Not sure if it has the one in question. But if needed, I could
go look.

Bob wrote:

Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Harbor Freight sells a set of tamper-proof bits

On Apr 13, 2:41*pm, Bob wrote:
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Grab a drill and chuck up a drill bit just small enough to fit between
the pin and the side of the hole of the screw.

One quick squeeze of the trigger and the pin will snap off and pop
right out.

Now grab whatever "normal" tool you need...torx, allen, whatever.

On Apr 13, 4:43*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Apr 13, 2:41*pm, Bob wrote:





Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Grab a drill and chuck up a drill bit just small enough to fit between
the pin and the side of the hole of the screw.

One quick squeeze of the trigger and the pin will snap off and pop
right out.

Now grab whatever "normal" tool you need...torx, allen, whatever.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Geez, if you want to take the center pin out, a simple screwdriver,
chisel, etc
plus a hammer would be a better idea no? What makes you thin the
pin will snap instead of the drill?

On Apr 13, 4:48*pm, "
wrote:
On Apr 13, 4:43*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Apr 13, 2:41*pm, Bob wrote:

Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off..

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Grab a drill and chuck up a drill bit just small enough to fit between
the pin and the side of the hole of the screw.

One quick squeeze of the trigger and the pin will snap off and pop
right out.

Now grab whatever "normal" tool you need...torx, allen, whatever.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Geez, if you want to take the center pin out, a simple screwdriver,
chisel, etc
plus a hammer would be a better idea no? *

No.

What makes you thin the pin will snap instead of the drill?

Because I've done it (popped the pin) more times than I can remember.
I wouldn't have suggested it just on a whim.

Some "security screws" are so small that the only screwdriver you can
get in there is a jeweler's screwdriver, whose fragile blade is more
apt to break than a drill bit...and replacing a drill bit, should it
break, is a lot cheaper than replacing a jeweler's screwdriver.

All I can say is that I speak from experience, having popped many a
pin with a drill. Of course, YMMV.

On Apr 13, 2:41*pm, Bob wrote:
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

harbor freight sells wrenches for such applications hopefully they
will fit yours

On 4/13/2011 2:41 PM, Bob wrote:
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Nope. But any good hardware store should have set of security bits.
There are a lot of different kinds and sizes. Forget looking at HD.

Jeff

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Use a left handed bit. When it catches, it will torque the
screw counter clockwise, and tend to unthread the screw. And
then once the screw is out, slot it with a Dremel, and cut
off wheel. Or, cut the top off, and braze on a slotted pan
head.

Seems like a lot of work to avoid buying a six dollar bit
set.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


wrote in message
...


Grab a drill and chuck up a drill bit just small enough to
fit between
the pin and the side of the hole of the screw.

One quick squeeze of the trigger and the pin will snap off
and pop
right out.

Now grab whatever "normal" tool you need...torx, allen,
whatever.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Geez, if you want to take the center pin out, a simple
screwdriver,
chisel, etc
plus a hammer would be a better idea no? What makes you
thin the
pin will snap instead of the drill?

"Bob" wrote in message ...

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

Yup, there is a big ol' "death cap" in there that will activate your life
insurance policy real fast if you shake hands with it the wrong way.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

As others have suggested, Harbor Freight and other places have sets of bits
for various security fasteners quite cheap, not a bad thing to have in your
tool box.

On Apr 13, 9:45*pm, "DGDevin" wrote:
"Bob" *wrote in ...
Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

Yup, there is a big ol' "death cap" in there that will activate your life
insurance policy real fast if you shake hands with it the wrong way.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

As others have suggested, Harbor Freight and other places have sets of bits
for various security fasteners quite cheap, not a bad thing to have in your
tool box.

A friend had a commercial van and asked me to move the security
screen. I was unable to find any tool to remove thse screws, and ended
up grinding off the heads. They had a wierd number of sides and pin in
center.

Found out later they were a special security screw for prison
applications only..... Only authorized people could buy the tool, and
there was no way for me to buy one and they cost a couple hundred
bucks. Even the dealer who sold the van said they couldnt get the tool
or remove the screen.

On Apr 13, 2:41*pm, Bob wrote:
Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

So? Get a safety screw bit to size, or drop it off at my shop...I'll
fix it.

Pat Ecum

On Apr 13, 11:23*pm, bob haller wrote:

A friend had a commercial van and asked me to move the security
screen. I was unable to find any tool to remove thse screws, and ended
up grinding off the heads. They had a wierd number of sides and pin in
center.

Found out later they were a special security screw for prison
applications only..... Only authorized people could buy the tool, and
there was no way for me to buy one and they cost a couple hundred
bucks. Even the dealer who sold the van said they couldnt get the tool
or remove the screen.

Evan posted a while back about such screws - that they're one-offs
from the manufacturer.

R

Bob wrote:

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Those are called "security" screws, and if there's no local Harbor
Freight to get the set of security bits that Stormin' Mormon
mentioned, you can take a tiny screwdriver and hammer it sideways into
the center nub to remove it.

On Apr 14, 5:31*am, "larry moe 'n curly"
wrote:
Bob wrote:

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Those are called "security" screws, and if there's no local Harbor
Freight to get the set of security bits that Stormin' Mormon
mentioned, you can take a tiny screwdriver and hammer it sideways into
the center nub to remove it.

I wouldnt hammer at any part of a microwave, these days they are light
construction easily damaged!

I would buy the tool set from harbor freight on line

On 04/13/11 02:41 pm, Bob wrote:

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I found a set of "Security Torx" drivers at Advance Auto Parts or
AutoZone for less than $10.

Perce

Automotive part stores sell security screws and tool for license
plates. My plate and microwave look the same. I have no idea where my
tool is so I can't confirm it would work. It was a while back but I
recall it being about two bucks.

On Apr 14, 8:47*am, Thomas wrote:
Automotive part stores sell security screws and tool for license
plates. My plate and microwave look the same. I have no idea where my
tool is so I can't confirm it would work. It was a while back but I
recall it being about two bucks.

doesnt everyone lose tools that are rarely needed? I have several sets
of the exact same tool for this reason

On Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:41:34 -0400, Bob wrote:

Hello,

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

Absolutely. I had to beg the woman on the phone at the Amana parts
counter for a schematic of my Model-2, and convince her I knew what I
was doing and wouldn't kill myself. Even then I think she gave me
instructions on putting the metal microwave gasket back in exactly the
same place it was to begin with. (But you don't have to touch that.)

(The first parts person thought it was the microwave tube, $150; the
second thought it was the diodes ($50), and it turned out all I had to
do was put GE Silicone all over the wires to the diodes and it lasted
another 10 years (under a dollar).)

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

It's probably a torx and the pin in the middle makes it a security
torx.

Before screwdriver tips were available, I'd drill out special screws
using a reversible drill running in reverse, and a left-handed drill
bit. Usually the bit would catch the screw and unscrew it before I
was done drilling, but not always.

There are probably a lot of places that sell sets of tips. HF does
and they are also the only place I know that sells left-handed drill
bits cheaply. I think there is only one name-brand maker of them, and
they're sold one at a time.

But drilling is a bad idea now that the bits are sold.


Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

On Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:43:13 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"
wrote:

On 04/13/11 02:41 pm, Bob wrote:

The pushbutton, all plastic, piece that opens my microwave door broke,
but I was able to get a new one from a parts place on the internet.

But, the screws that hold the metal microwave cover in place are
apparently some kind of a safety-screw, which I'm having a lot of
trouble with.

Obviously, Whirlpool doesn't want the home user to take the cover off.

The small screw heads look like either Allen or Torex, but they have a
pin in the center to prevent any normal wrench from engaging.
Have never seen any Allen or Torex or..., with a hole in the center for
getting over the screw's pin.

Any idea what kind of wrench might be called for ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I found a set of "Security Torx" drivers at Advance Auto Parts or
AutoZone for less than $10.

They shouldn't permit two auto stores to both start their names with
A.

Unless it's AAAAutoZone.

Perce

Absolutely. I had to beg the woman on the phone at the Amana parts
counter for a schematic of my Model-2, and convince her I knew what I
was doing and wouldn't kill myself. Even then I think she gave me
instructions on putting the metal microwave gasket back in exactly the
same place it was to begin with. (But you don't have to touch that.)

When my Monkey Ward uWave oven finally failed after 25 years of faithful
service, I did replace it, functinally, with an over the stove/hood
replacement uWave.

Anyway, I was curious about what when wrong.

Since the replacement was in service, I didn't go out of my way to be "nice"
to the sheet metal and I found a few places where, indeed, I decided I had
to break a spot weld to get things apart.

I don't remember the details but I found that what killed my UWave was a
$.25 SCR. For some stupid reason I have "saved" many of the parts to
include the magnets (fun to use around the house). It had some pretty
good contactors in good shape. The control panel still functions so if I
ever want to control something that sort of wants the timing of a uWave I'm
in good shape!

I think I still have the transformer and the voltage doubler that powers the
uWave tube. I have asked on several groups whether anyone can think of any
SANE use for any of these but I haven't gotten any answers.

In article ,
"John Gilmer" wrote:

I think I still have the transformer and the voltage doubler that powers the
uWave tube. I have asked on several groups whether anyone can think of any
SANE use for any of these but I haven't gotten any answers.

Could be the start of an ozone generator for stink remediation.

On 4/17/2011 5:35 PM, John Gilmer wrote:

I think I still have the transformer and the voltage doubler that powers the
uWave tube. I have asked on several groups whether anyone can think of any
SANE use for any of these but I haven't gotten any answers.


http://groups.google.com/group/alt.energy.homepower/msg/f0c7573b09f71999

John Gilmer wrote:
cut
I think I still have the transformer and the voltage doubler that powers the
uWave tube. I have asked on several groups whether anyone can think of any
SANE use for any of these but I haven't gotten any answers.


A De Graaf generator?
Spray charge on a moving plastic belt, which ends in a
bucketlike metal enclosure with an open bottom,
and discharge the belt by touching inside metal cam.

Will let you play with a few million volts

I dont know if such a project is sane, but it sure is fun.