Removing screws from aluminum

[balcom robin s]

A few years ago I needed to remove the 3" wide aluminum rail that covers the
joint between the roof and the sidewall on the outside of the GMC. There's a
lot of screws holding them on, and I probably broke half of them trying to
remove them. They're plain steel, not stainless, so they were stuck pretty
good because of corrosion. Drilling out the broken ones is a job I didn't
want to repeat. I then heard about this technique:

1. Put a good screwdriver in the head of the screw.
2. Use a hammer to give the screwdriver 4 or 5 sharp raps.
3. Remove the screw - it should come out without any fuss.

If need be, repeat until the screw does come out easily.

Every time I use this technique, I give myself an imaginary pat on the back,
and say a silent "Oh man, this is great!"

 

[thomas g. warner]

I have a wonderful tool for that purpose called an impact screwdriver(about
$10) Have had it for many years and it has never failed to remove these
stubborn screws, bolts etc. Consists of a small handle about 5" long with
various bits and adapters. Insert the screwdriver in the stubborn screw and
hit the handle with a hammer on hte end. The imnpact of the hammer pushes
down on the screw and at the same time spins it out. The impact breaks the
rust etc normally releasing it. Most automotive parts stores sell them.

>A few years ago I needed to remove the 3" wide aluminum rail that covers the
>joint between the roof and the sidewall on the outside of the GMC. There's a
>lot of screws holding them on, and I probably broke half of them trying to
>remove them. They're plain steel, not stainless, so they were stuck pretty
>good because of corrosion. Drilling out the broken ones is a job I didn't
>want to repeat. I then heard about this technique:
>
>1. Put a good screwdriver in the head of the screw.
>2. Use a hammer to give the screwdriver 4 or 5 sharp raps.
>3. Remove the screw - it should come out without any fuss.
>
>If need be, repeat until the screw does come out easily.
>
>Every time I use this technique, I give myself an imaginary pat on the back,
>and say a silent "Oh man, this is great!"
>
>

 

[balcom robin s]

Tom:

I tried my impact screwdriver when I did that job, but the screws still
broke. I think there's two forces at work: the impact that breaks the
corrosion, and the turning motion for removing the screw. The impact
screwdriver applies the two forces at the same time, whereas the technique I
described applies them one at a time. It may seem like a minor difference,
but as they say, it works for me!

Robin