Someone please assist...Trying to remove a star screw : really small : the kind in a phone (not torx)

There are 5 screws, unscrewed 3 but the remaining 2 can't be unscrewed (bad screw)

How to remove the 2 screws?? Tried 1 another screw driver but nothing

 

Is the screw down inside a hole? Or do you have access to the head of screw?

Is it one one these?

http://resources.tannerbolt.com/articles/what-type-of-screw-is-this/

 

Is the screw down inside a hole? Or do you have access to the head of screw?

Is it one one these?

http://resources.tannerbolt.com/articles/what-type-of-screw-is-this/

Hi..The 2nd one (phillips) I believe..I have access to the screw head

 

Ok, not sure what very small means, but.....there are a couple of ways to try.

Sometimes a small jeweler's flat edge screwdriver can be fitted in and tapped a little. Then applying downward pressure on driver, turn driver shaft with wench or pliers.

Sometimes one can file edges on the screw head for a wench to fit.

And sometimes.......one can use chisel type slanted sideways action on head to tap and turn screw head with small flat screwdriver and hammer.

Be careful, all of these can result in head loss and embedded shaft. Then the real fun begins.

And they do sell various rounded out head removal tools and gadgets.

Small size makes it harder. Also you said like a phone, which is plastic. The media that is surrounding the screw makes a difference also. I have always wondered if a little freon or maybe propane, around the head on plastic media, would swell the screw hole. Expand the hole. Maybe ...contract the screw. Try both ways.

Or maybe they have plastic penetrates now. Have not kept up on such things.

 

I normally use a set of wire cutters to grip the edges, or use an hot soldering iron to heat up the screw first this usually works..

 

It the head turning with no effect or is the driver rotating in the head?

Photos?

 

How many engineers does it take to remove a screw?

We will soon know the answer to that age-old riddle.

 

I normally use a set of wire cutters to grip the edges, or use an hot soldering iron to heat up the screw first this usually works..

Soldering iron to heat up then screw then use screw driver?

The screw is in a phone...soldering iron will not cause harm?

 

It the head turning with no effect or is the driver rotating in the head?

Photos?

The latter...rotating in the head

 

Left Hand Drill Bit Set 13 Pc - Harbor Freight Tools
Don't get cobalt drill bits unless you are drilling hardened screws.
They are brittle and break easily.
Maybe use Dodgydave's idea to use an hot soldering iron to heat up the screw first.

 

I had the thought of applying some heat too. But be careful, plastic is not very tolerant of heat. The idea is to soften the plastic, encouraging it to give up its grip on the screw. But if too much heat is applied you can melt the plastic and it could become bonded to the screw, so much so that if you DO succeed in turning the screw you could break the plastic the screw is screwed into.

Since, if I got this right, you say the screw head is accessible, what I've done in past times is to use a Dremmel tool to cut a slot in the head and then use a flat blade screwdriver to turn the screw. But since you're saying it's in a phone and it's a very small screw, chances are you'll never find a cutter thin enough to make a slot in the screw head without totally obliterating the head itself. But even that is a possible alternative, remove the head. When you get the two parts separated you should be left with enough of a stem of the old screw you can grip it with small pliers and simply unscrew it. You'll have to replace it, but that's probably going to be the outcome anyway.

 

If its not been covered in the posts above.
Go through the motion of tightening the screws first, any burring due to poor fit of screwdriver, or poorly made screw will work in your favour, when it comes to the unscrewing part. (Probably too late for this job).
I like the idea of soldering iron heat.
Good luck..

 

Soldering iron is the only stuff I have so doing this...

Thanks in advance if it works

 

the best is to send us pictures. Depending on where the head is, totally different methods can be used.

 

here..not a good pic...The shiny stuff at bottom right
3 screws removed : just 2 left (bottom left and top right)

so soldering iron?

 

Sorry, I don't see well in that picture.

1. Can you tell me why the screws don't come out? I mean, you have the right driver, right? (so, it's a case of screws not turning under maximal healthy torque?)
2. Have you striped the head already or the head is still sharp?

In some cases I've had, the screw head itself somehow made a binding with the surrounding material. Some WD-40 applied with a toothpick helps to break that bond and sometimes even makes its way down the screw, which will then definitely loose things up.

 

in case you've stripped the head:
if the head protrudes above the hole, you could make a flat head with some hand chisling. Don't cut the whole head across, as then the head will split. Just make some room for the smallest flat head driver you have that doesn't spin freely inside

If the head's inside, you got yourself a project. I would take the biggest flat driver I have that would fit down the shaft, sharpen it and then gently tap it on top of the head until you get some purchase. WD-40 at this point shouldn't hurt, as the shaft will lead it down the screw.
Be gentle here. You want to tap NOT MORE than the force that will nail your screw forever inside the plastic.
Metal is less "plastic" than plastic, so with small, measured taps, you will get there eventually.

 

1) I have no idea why it won't come out...like Yaakov asked, the driver is rotating in the head



2. "Have you striped the head already or the head is still sharp?" don't understand

Will use soldering iron very soon : 10mins..Hopefully works

 

The latter...rotating in the head

If the screw is stripped there is a good chance you are using the wrong size screwdriver, too small.

It may not be too late, try a larger driver and apply pressure straight down forcing it into the head and turning slowly.

 

If the screw is stripped there is a good chance you are using the wrong size screwdriver, too small.

It may not be too late, try a larger driver and apply pressure straight down forcing it into the head and turning slowly.

Used larger screw driver but nothing...Removed 3 screws and it seems they are all the same

Will applying heat do anything? what will it do?