Recommend me a screw extractor set.

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Hollowpoint

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I’ve got a stripped Allen head that’s sat in a recess. I can’t cut a slot in it or hammer a torx bit into it as it’s in a fragile-ish area. Best course of action would be a screw extractor. I have a set but they aren’t the best of quality and I don’t want to same the head further with these and have no other options. Looking for a better quality set and I would prefer it if I could put a ratchet or screwdriver on the end of them if possible. What do guys have/ recommend.

For context it’s the bolts for the dog leg gauge holder on an old style s400.
 
Hollowpoint said:
I’ve got a stripped Allen head that’s sat in a recess. I can’t cut a slot in it or hammer a torx bit into it as it’s in a fragile-ish area. Best course of action would be a screw extractor. I have a set but they aren’t the best of quality and I don’t want to same the head further with these and have no other options. Looking for a better quality set and I would prefer it if I could put a ratchet or screwdriver on the end of them if possible. What do guys have/ recommend.
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I got a set from Screwfix, seen reasonably good for the price and they’ve worked when I needed them
 
rob2278 said:
Didn't have to drill.......
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Fingers crossed for me. I’ve not a novice with these kind of things but with it sat in a recess, on a pcp, a lot of the options I would use first are gone. Cutting slots, banging torx heads or even aralditeing a sacrificial Allen key are all out on the window with this. Want to get it right the first time. I do have a bigger stud extractor set but nothing small enough to fit this. Other than a cheapo set that I have.
 
This is what I needed to remove. The 2.5-3mm extractor got it out without any issues.
 

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Hollowpoint said:
I’ve got a stripped Allen head that’s sat in a recess. I can’t cut a slot in it or hammer a torx bit into it as it’s in a fragile-ish area. Best course of action would be a screw extractor. I have a set but they aren’t the best of quality and I don’t want to same the head further with these and have no other options. Looking for a better quality set and I would prefer it if I could put a ratchet or screwdriver on the end of them if possible. What do guys have/ recommend.

For context it’s the bolts for the dog leg gauge holder on an old style s400.
Click to expand...
can you drill the head off and the remove the dogleg then undo with mole grips
 
Before you use the extractor...I would soak the surrounding in WD40 for half a day at least....
It must have been too tight, hence the rounding of the head.
So soaking it in WD40, gives you a fighting chance with the tools.

{edit} - apart from the WD40, you can clean the head and degrease thoroughly, also use a sightly small Alan key, degrease, then araldite the key in the head and leave for half a day...that might work. I did it once before in a similar situation
 
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Hollowpoint said:
I’ve got a stripped Allen head that’s sat in a recess. I can’t cut a slot in it or hammer a torx bit into it as it’s in a fragile-ish area. Best course of action would be a screw extractor. I have a set but they aren’t the best of quality and I don’t want to same the head further with these and have no other options. Looking for a better quality set and I would prefer it if I could put a ratchet or screwdriver on the end of them if possible. What do guys have/ recommend.

For context it’s the bolts for the dog leg gauge holder on an old style s400.
Click to expand...

A bit of a long shot, but try putting a suitably sized rubber band flat, between the allen head and the stripped threads, push down fairly hard and it can bite just enough to allow you to unscrew the bugger.
 
i am not going to recommend a brand but just give some opinion yes opinion
i have use many styles remember that word over my 75 years
some have caused more harm than good because they snapped off
in this case small screws can be a real problem
now you get a extractor now what, do you have a tab and die set to steal a holder out off maybe not so you need some that will hold the extractor
you need downward pressure and sone way to turn it
now this is some of my sets the one that has the finish twist was made by Craftsman in black case and it works great for the HW45 barrel screws
one other has 3/8 drive that can be used with and air tool and the last is a common type and i haven't been using them
it is a buy and try and sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't
and we are not working on a broken bolt in a car fender you are working on an expensive gun with a 3-4mm screw
i would also suggest get a carbide drill bit for the hole sometime the screws are very hard and it is an unknown

good luck that is all i have

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Wizzygoth said:
Before you use the extractor...I would soak the surrounding in WD40 for half a day at least....
It must have been too tight, hence the rounding of the head.
So soaking it in WD40, gives you a fighting chance with the tools.

{edit} - apart from the WD40, you can clean the head and degrease thoroughly, also a sightly small Alan key, also degrease, then araldite the key in the head and leave for half a day...that might work. I did it once before in a similar situation
Click to expand...
Soaking as we speak in penetrating oil. Thank you do the reply mate.
 
marflow said:
i am not going to recommend a brand but just give some opinion yes opinion
i have use many styles remember that word over my 75 years
some have caused more harm than good because they snapped off
in this case small screws can be a real problem
now you get a extractor now what, do you have a tab and die set to steal a holder out off maybe not so you need some that will hold the extractor
you need downward pressure and sone way to turn it
now this is some of my sets the one that has the finish twist was made by Craftsman in black case and it works great for the HW45 barrel screws
one other has 3/8 drive that can be used with and air tool and the last is a common type and i haven't been using them
it is a buy and try and sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't
and we are not working on a broken bolt in a car fender you are working on an expensive gun with a 3-4mm screw
i would also suggest get a carbide drill bit for the hole sometime the screws are very hard and it is an unknown

good luck that is all i have

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Thank you for the reply. I do have a tap and die set. I alway ask for advice on tools though as things move one quickly with tools. Especially since I last bought most of mine. I notice a lot have hex heads on the now and can fit into a screwdriver or ratchet with a bit adapter. I thought these might be more suitable for this application. I’m open to to suggestion for as I’m used to working. On bigger item than this. This is a flat headed Allen bolt with a small Allen slot in it. At a guess from memory it’s around an 8-10mm head with a 3mm Allen slot. I’m guessing the thread undernieth is around m4-m5. I won’t know until I remove it. It’s not your usual cup head Allen bolt
 
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Re Phil said:
A bit of a long shot, but try putting a suitably sized rubber band flat, between the allen head and the stripped threads, push down fairly hard and it can bite just enough to allow you to unscrew the bugger.
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Tried that as one of the first things I did. Thank you though. Sometimes works with gloves or a rubber band but not today.
 
Bighit said:
Have you had them out before? if not then they me be in with Loctite or similar.

Yo could use a soldering iron to get heat into it and melt the locttie and that takes one issue away
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Never been out since the day the gun was made. It’s the bolt that attaches the dog leg pressure gauge holder to the gun.
 
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