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#1
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Hi all
I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin |
#2
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
www.baddogtools.com They drill thru brake rotors, files etc. Not
cheap, but I got a set at ww show and ended up needing it that very day to remove a frozen shock mount bolt on wifes car. You will need a small hole to get larger bit started. |
#3
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Martin Noakes wrote:
Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead. |
#4
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
"Martin Noakes" wrote in message ... Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. Can you post a picture of the screws in the flooring and if possible a picture of just a screw? John |
#5
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Some have split!
Cheers for the advise Martin "Saudade" wrote in message ... Martin Noakes wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead. |
#6
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Not at the moment as I haven't been able to unscrew any of them.
Cheers Martin "John Grossbohlin" wrote in message ink.net... "Martin Noakes" wrote in message ... Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. Can you post a picture of the screws in the flooring and if possible a picture of just a screw? John |
#7
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards
screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull up the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece from the underside at your workbench? Just a thought. J. Martin Noakes wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin |
#8
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
They're screwed in to a softwood frame which is infilled with insulation
(jablite). Cheers Martin "John" wrote in message ... It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull up the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece from the underside at your workbench? Just a thought. J. Martin Noakes wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin |
#9
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
More thoughts.
A cobalt bit or try a reciprocating saw with a long, fine tooth, bimetallic blade. If the bimetallic blade won't cut the screws, get a diamond blade. Just lift the board enough to get the blade under it and cut off the screws. Frank "Martin Noakes" wrote in message ... Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin |
#10
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
I've looked through the screwfix brochure and they sell titanium tipped dril
bits would these be hard enough? "Saudade" wrote in message ... Martin Noakes wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead. |
#11
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
If they go into softwood, you may be able to drive them through. Then you
can plug the holes in the shop and start again. What's the width of the gap? Was this wood dry? Could the framing be the problem? I'd also look for a hollow bit, like a miniature holesaw, and drill around the screw. I've seem them, but don't know the name. I doubt you'll be able to drill the metal, but who knows. Maybe the miracle buts the sell at ww shows? Wilson "John" wrote in message ... It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull up the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece from the underside at your workbench? Just a thought. J. Martin Noakes wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin |
#12
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:37:25 -0000, "Martin Noakes"
wrote: Hi all I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after straightenin the boards. Here's a picture one of the gaps! http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to unscrew them. The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads. Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Cheers Martin Perhaps this would work? Take a piece of 1/4 inch hollow steel tubing. With a triangular file, file some teeth in one of the ends (you are essentially making a 1/4 diameter hole saw without the center bit). Chuck it in your drill and use it to bore down around the outside of the screw, separating the screw from the plank. (You can use a scrap with a 1/4 hole in it as a guide to get the bit started in the right place, since it will tend to wander with no center bit.) Once you have done this to all the screws, lift the plank off, and remove the screws with pliers. The 1/4 holes in the planks can be filled with wood plugs. I've seen commercial versions of this tool for sale, but don't remember where at the moment. It'll be slow going, but beats destroying the floor to remove it. HTH, Paul |
#13
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
"Tom" wrote in message oups.com... www.baddogtools.com They drill thru brake rotors, files etc. Not cheap, but I got a set at ww show and ended up needing it that very day to remove a frozen shock mount bolt on wifes car. You will need a small hole to get larger bit started. What's carbaloid? |
#14
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
I just read the same and was about to ask the same too. So ibid.
....and if it's anything like leatherette, I'll pass. H |
#15
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
I take it this is not normal oak plank flooring you can get at the
flooring stores (pic did not look like normal T&G boards, anyway). Floorboards are normally nailed for this very reason, among others, but there may have been a good reason to use screws here. Regardless, I would first try to screw them all the way through. If that didn't work, a Sawzall with a long bi-metal blade would most likely eat it and ask for more. Small hole saw is the last option, because fitting many special-made plugs won't be fun. Good luck and tell us how you do, H |
#16
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Toller wrote: What's carbaloid? FUD for "carbide" |
#17
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
Martin Noakes wrote: Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them. Try a crowbar. Maybe the screws will pull out of the softwood sleepers. Sam |
#18
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
No better than HSS. They are not titanium (which would make a lousy drill
bit). They are HSS bits with a thin (.0001") titanium nitride coating. "Martin Noakes" wrote in message ... I've looked through the screwfix brochure and they sell titanium tipped dril bits would these be hard enough? |
#19
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Drilling out hardened steel screws question
If regular HSS won't do it, cobalt won't either.
"Frank K." wrote in message ... More thoughts. A cobalt bit or try a reciprocating saw with a long, fine tooth, bimetallic blade. If the bimetallic blade won't cut the screws, get a diamond blade. Just lift the board enough to get the blade under it and cut off the screws. |
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