I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.

My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?

The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.

I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.

On 12/17/2013 12:39 PM, wrote:
I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.

My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?

The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.

I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.




The old screws should be easy enough to drill out with a good quality
drill bit of small diameter.

wrote in message ...
I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.

My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?

The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.

I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.

Have you tried removing the screws with a left hand thread screw or screw extractor? Or maybe drill them out completely and tap slightly larger threads?

On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:48:41 PM UTC-8, Guv Bob wrote:
wrote in message ...

I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.



My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?



The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.



I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.



Have you tried removing the screws with a left hand thread screw or screw extractor? Or maybe drill them out completely and tap slightly larger threads?

I should have mentioned that. Yes, the screws are harder than the casting. The drill went off center and the wall thickness is less than the screw diameter. So, yes I tried drilling but it did not work. BTW, I have never been able to make one of those screw extractors work...

On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 5:16:01 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:48:41 PM UTC-8, Guv Bob wrote:

wrote in message ...



I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.







My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?







The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.







I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.







Have you tried removing the screws with a left hand thread screw or screw extractor? Or maybe drill them out completely and tap slightly larger threads?



I should have mentioned that. Yes, the screws are harder than the casting. The drill went off center and the wall thickness is less than the screw diameter. So, yes I tried drilling but it did not work. BTW, I have never been able to make one of those screw extractors work...

They are often that way. You need to use a center punch when drilling out screws. And sometimes you need to start with a smaller bit and then go back with a larger bit.

On Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:18:25 -0800 (PST), jamesgang
wrote:

You need to use a center punch when drilling out screws. And sometimes you need to start with a smaller bit and then go back with a larger bit.

If the head broke, I'd try a pair of needled-nosed vise gripes.

Or grabits.

•Two-step drill bit and extractor in one tool. Multiple tools not
required.

•Self centering drill tip; no walking or wandering. No grinding,
center punching required.

http://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-Grabit-Damaged-Extractor/dp/B001A4CWHO/ref=sr_1_1/178-2073870-2680520?ie=UTF8&qid=1387319797&sr=8-1&keywords=grabit+screw+extractor

YMMV

On 12/17/2013 04:44 PM, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:18:25 -0800 (PST), jamesgang
wrote:

You need to use a center punch when drilling out screws. And sometimes you need to start with a smaller bit and then go back with a larger bit.

If the head broke, I'd try a pair of needled-nosed vise gripes.

Or grabits.

•Two-step drill bit and extractor in one tool. Multiple tools not
required.

•Self centering drill tip; no walking or wandering. No grinding,
center punching required.

http://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-Grabit-Damaged-Extractor/dp/B001A4CWHO/ref=sr_1_1/178-2073870-2680520?ie=UTF8&qid=1387319797&sr=8-1&keywords=grabit+screw+extractor

YMMV




If nothing can get that broken screw out and the new drain cover has to
be glued in, I'd use RTV as it will hold well...but the piece /can/ be
removed again next time replacement is needed.

On 12/17/2013 1:39 PM, wrote:
I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.

My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?

The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.

I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.

First, different metals are not always a good idea, actually usually a
bad idea.

Brass to brass is fine. Some metals tend to react with each other when
together and therefore require special treatment.

Most plumbing is brass or copper because it does not degrade much.

Drill the screws, and use an extractor. if you can't get the screw out
drill it out and re-tap.

--
Jeff

On 12/17/2013 5:18 PM, jamesgang wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 5:16:01 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:48:41 PM UTC-8, Guv Bob wrote:

wrote in message ...



I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.







My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?







The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.







I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.







Have you tried removing the screws with a left hand thread screw or screw extractor? Or maybe drill them out completely and tap slightly larger threads?



I should have mentioned that. Yes, the screws are harder than the casting. The drill went off center and the wall thickness is less than the screw diameter. So, yes I tried drilling but it did not work. BTW, I have never been able to make one of those screw extractors work...

They are often that way. You need to use a center punch when drilling out screws. And sometimes you need to start with a smaller bit and then go back with a larger bit.


Exactly... what he said.

--
Jeff

wrote in message ...
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:48:41 PM UTC-8, Guv Bob wrote:
wrote in message ...

I removed the old drain cover in my 11-year old shower to install a new one. I found the cast brass pipe had two brass screws, which were frozen in place and the heads stripped off when I tried to remove them.



My first question is why are there brass screws in a brass fitting with no thread compound? Why not use stainless, or aluminum, or nylon screws? Why install the parts in a way that guarantees they will freeze and the heads will strip off?



The second question is now that I have no screw holes for new screws how do I mount the new drain cover? I have installed a snap in replacement cover but it would be nice to have the original style cover held in place with screws.



I am considering using epoxy to glue a couple of nuts to the inside of the grain. Maybe something like a large volume of JB weld will work and I can drill and tap for new screws.



Have you tried removing the screws with a left hand thread screw or screw extractor? Or maybe drill them out completely and tap slightly larger threads?

- I should have mentioned that. Yes, the screws are harder than the casting.
- The drill went off center and the wall thickness is less than the screw
- diameter. So, yes I tried drilling but it did not work. BTW, I have never been
- able to make one of those screw extractors work...

Yeah, I know what you mean. If it were me, my next solution would be to call a plumber! LOL!

Last time I changed the thermostat in my car, I sheared off the bolts. I tried drilling and extracting them and never did get them out. Ended up filing the bolts down even with the face, drilling new holes in the housing and drilling/tapping matching holes in the block. Saved $20 not taking it to the mechanic. ;O)