Busted Phillips Screws


one of the lugs on my speakers came loose , so I used a power screw driver to remove the Phillips screws holding the plate in the back. 3 out of the six screws came out fine. The other three had the indentaions smashed, now I am stuck with three phillips screws that I can get out. Will seek the advice of someone more mechanically inclined then myself, but any advice is appreciated. My thought is to take a drill and destroy the screws completely. However I wont do anything until I consult with a few friends. THX
darrylhifi
Both good thoughts, will probably try them both and dump the drill idea...One of my handyman friends called , his suggestion was to take a phillips screw driver of exactly the same size , insert it into the hole and tap lightly to try and indent a new phillips insert into the existing screws. Sounds like a good idea, however I know when I first tried to take the screws out with a normal screw driver , they did seem to be pretty firmly in place, so not wanting to kill myself getting them out, I really did not try too hard, because I knew my neighbor had a power screw driver. You live......You learn....will try all three suggestions if necessary. Amazing how you miss coming home from work and playing music, even if its only for a few minutes. thanks.
Sometimes you can get a straight screw driver to bite what is left of the screw head. Try different sizes, with a sharper point.

Marty
get a Screw Out at Sears, you'll need it again someday for something around the house or garage. only $20
next time, try tightening a bit before attempting to loosen. I learned this trick from an old pro machinist many years ago; still works the last time I needed to uncover an amp that just wouldn't cooperate.
There are also products called "Easy Outs" that are used to remove bolts whose heads have snapped off or been rounded. (They look like funky drill bits.) I don't know if these would work for your application, though. At hardware store or a good automotive supply store. Keep us posted if you use that Craftsman device. I'm sure that there are many others, besides myself, here on Agon who are curious if this "goober" really works! Keep you woofers a woofin'`and your tweeters a tweetin'!