What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Broken screw extractor

6

6ato14a

Well Known Member
I have a screw broken off in a nut plate. Small part of screw sticking through back of nut plate. What tool can I use to grab the screw threads and continue screwing the broken part the rest of the way through the nutplate? Need something better than the small vice grip I have tried.
 
Well, you could center punch the end of the screw, drill into the screw almost but not quite the whole length, using a drill size appropriate for a tap one size smaller than the screw. Insert tap, screw the screw back out the way it went in.
But, for the cost of a nutplate, why bother? Drill out the rivets holding the nutplate, install a new one.
 
If the screw already broke once, it's prolly not gonna come out willingly. Replace the nutplate.

-Marc
 
As an A&P I ran into this problem all-the-time.
The best solution I found is a pair of ignition pliers such as those in the links below. They have never failed me. Often, if there is any screw head to grab, I can grip the head and back the screw out of the nut plate. If the head is broke off, I can grip whatever shank is protruding and run it out the backside of the nut plate.


https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-2-Inc...an+ignition+pliers&qid=1621432977&s=hi&sr=1-2

https://www.amazon.com/Wilde-Tool-I...an+ignition+pliers&qid=1621432977&s=hi&sr=1-3
 
Whatever you end up doing ---- you might try using a bit of bees wax lube to prevent future problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top