Hardware How do i remove stripped screws?

NoNAND

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So i finally decided to fix my switch and thankfully I put everything together and it's working as ut should now.
The thing is. I can't put my backplate on anymore
The previous backplate had stripped screws so i pried it up by force and now the screws are stuck in.

Please how do i remove them
Tried rubber band and superglue and nothing works
I don't have a drill and even if i had one I don't know how to use it.

Would someone please help me fix it


PS the the screw on the top of the right joycon rail us stripped too.

Help please
 

Shadow#1

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So i finally decided to fix my switch and thankfully I put everything together and it's working as ut should now.
The thing is. I can't put my backplate on anymore
The previous backplate had stripped screws so i pried it up by force and now the screws are stuck in.

Please how do i remove them
Tried rubber band and superglue and nothing works
I don't have a drill and even if i had one I don't know how to use it.

Would someone please help me fix it


PS the the screw on the top of the right joycon rail us stripped too.

Help please
Very small drill bit
 

Clydefrosch

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in such circumstances, drilling seems like the only way. you either take a bit about the size of the screw and drill the whole thing appart (you likely wont be able to put in a new screw afterwards) or you could try to drill a hole in the center and try superglue again from there.

i'm not sure how common electronics repair shops are in your area, but if there are any, you could call and ask them if they have the tools to remove stripped screws
 
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NoNAND

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in such circumstances, drilling seems like the only way. you either take a bit about the size of the screw and drill the whole thing appart (you likely wont be able to put in a new screw afterwards) or you could try to drill a hole in the center and try superglue again from there.

i'm not sure how common electronics repair shops are in your area, but if there are any, you could call and ask them if they have the tools to remove stripped screws
I hope they don't screw it up
 
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FAST6191

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Hi, i'm in the same situation, how did this end?
No two stripped screws are ever really alike and without at least high res pictures nobody is really going to be able to help with your specific case.
Proper tools and technique really help in getting things out, but not everybody has a pillar drill/drill stand/mill (never mind with left hand bits of suitable size if going for that particular method).
That leaves you with maybe making a guide (if you can't hold a hand drill still then a guide is little more than a block with a hole in it)
trying some kind of compliant setup (rubber band or molten pen lid being among the more popular)
hoping a flat screwdriver will fit, or milling/cutting a slot to fit one
if there is a bit sticking up then maybe getting it to turn around with a punch
if there is enough sticking up then gripping it with some kind of clamping action (not expected for small electronics)
drilling in and using a screw extractor (they do exist for small stuff but are rare as anything, and usually even more useless than the bigger stuff) or drilling it such the head is gone with minimal other things damaged and you can lift it over (and possibly then have enough to grip on to so as to twist out).
 

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20210221_123209.jpg


20210221_123135.jpg


I have 3 stripped screws so i'm pretty much in a bad position
 

godreborn

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another option might be to use a gauge one higher than the screw. sometimes that can get out stubborn screws. that usually really screw them on at the factory, because they assume they won't have to be unscrewed anyway.
 
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Kanakops

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another option might be to use a gauge one higher than the screw. sometimes that can get out stubborn screws. that usually really screw them on at the factory, because they assume they won't have to be unscrewed anyway.

By "a gauge one higher than the screw" can I know what do you want to mean? I didn't really understand even with a translator, what is a gauge ?
 

The Real Jdbye

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20210221_123209.jpg


20210221_123135.jpg


I have 3 stripped screws so i'm pretty much in a bad position
Thankfully, you only need to unscrew the middle screw on the JoyCon rails to get the backplate off. So you don't need to worry too much about that right now.

As for the backplate. If you got the backplate off, there should be a bit of the screw sticking up, which should be enough to grab the screw with pliers and unscrew it that way. I think you can buy replacement screw kits online, or if you don't mind, just leave one of the screw holes empty. If the backplate was damaged by prying, you can buy replacements for those as well.
Failing that, you have the drill method. There are also special screw extractor bits, which also require a drill, but I haven't seen them in small enough sizes to work on those screws.

Stripped screws are often the result of using the wrong sized screwdriver. Make sure you use size Y00 for the triwing screws. Y0 is simply too big, it will not grip properly, I learned this the hard way.

Y00 size is kinda tough to find, most sellers don't specify the size that way, they just specify mm, which is completely meaningless.
iFixit sells Y00 bits, and it's also in their Pro Tech Toolkit. After stripping a screw on one of my JoyCons, I took the plunge and bought one of those toolkits, and I haven't regretted it. Honestly one of the best purchases I've ever made. Having the right tool for the job makes all the difference in the world, it has saved me frustration, and saved me from breaking things several times already.
 
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Posghetti

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Stripped screw are usually caused by using the wrong bit size or they've been over-torqued by the manufacturer or another user.

I work at an electronics repair shop and when we have to deal with stripped screws we'd be lucky going one bit larger, but we usually dremel them out (which always works)

P.S. Good luck if you own a Note 20 Ultra, those damn screws are hella over-torqued.
 

jkirk

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the only other way i can see you fixing your situation is taking a dremel or a file to cut a line into the screw head and then use a flat screwdriver to get it out.
 
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Kanakops

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the only other way i can see you fixing your situation is taking a dremel or a file to cut a line into the screw head and then use a flat screwdriver to get it out.

I'm an intern at a hardware shop, I will ask if they can remove the stripped screws for me
 

Hayato213

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godreborn

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you might replace the screws with something more standard if possible. that's what I did with my 360 controllers. the standard controller uses torx security, and my screwdriver can't fit into the holes of the controller. as a result, I can't unscrew them without a flathead (the bottom two screws), so I have them all philips head now in order to get them out without using my main screwdriver, that just uses heads.
 

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