T8 torx screws stuck

[Notch7]

Any ideas?

They are in a spindle moulder grroving block, holding in TCT tips.

Ive got some out, but the T8 heads are so small I keep damaging the screwdriver tips -got through 3 so far.

Im now soaking in penetrating oil.

Would heat or putting in freezer help?

TIA Notch

 

[Burnerman]

Heat, if you possibly can - together with a new TX8 driver, hammered in! Bloomin' small, that one.
Maybe the heads could be drilled off, and what's left removed with Mole grips or similar.
John

 

[JohnD]

heat. If you have a soldering iron, put the head in the socket and hold it there. It will take quite a while to get hot because the surrounding will absorb the heat. If you can put a pin-sharp flame on it will be quicker. You can also get your (spare or damaged) drivers red-hot and use those (but use a fresh one to turn the screw once it's hot)

Are the screws stainless?

Luckily, socket-heads are easy to put a drill-tip in, if that fails. Get some left-handed drills and the torque and vibration will probably unscrew them, if not you can carry on and drill them out.

 

[Notch7]

Many thanks for the advice, I will try the soldering iron tip.

It seems counter intuitive as heating the screw would seem like it might make it expand making it tighter, but I suppose heat also increases the length of the screw and so may help reduce the pressure on the mating surfaces, especially as its countersunk.

Cheers Notch

 

[Tigercubrider]

Heating can work by the fact that the materials expand at different rates and can break a seal as they cool