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Opening Mac se

Papichulo

Well-known member
I know this was probably posted but the issue is the screw inside the handle is stripped and I can't use the hex  tool to open the SE. Somebody put it in tight and I don't think there's another screwdriver that can fit under it. Is there another way to open it without breaking the plastics? Thanks

 

Byrd

Well-known member
You seem to get in trouble often with computers ... how did you strip it?  Ideally you'll need to make up something else that bites into the screw, and spray some lubricant around the screw leave it for some hours to seep down.

You don't need a long handled torx screwdriver to open a Compact Mac, a long lever arm made from a coat hanger does the job, hammered down and filed at one end to fit into the hex hole.  I've done this for years.

Hammer down the end and grind down an edge "phillips style" to fit snugly into the screw hole --->___________________________________| <--- make a handle this end

If the head is completely stripped, you'll need to drill it out.

 

Juror22

Well-known member
If the head is completely stripped, you'll need to drill it out.
If the other suggestions don't work, you should be able to drill out the screw- you will need a long bit (so that the drill doesn't bang the side of the case).

 

beachycove

Well-known member
Drilling it out is one option, though limiting the drilling to the metal would be a challenge. Alternatively, there are tools called bolt extractors that might work. MAYBE one could get enough purchase in the old hole to allow you to unscrew the fitting in this case; otherwise you would need to drill down slightly into the stripped screw. Images here, from a quick google search: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/extract-a-broken-screw/

 

Byrd

Well-known member
That sounds like a much better suggestion @beachycove - drilling the head then making some sort of long handled bolt extractor to get it out (weld the bit onto something perhaps)

 

beachycove

Well-known member
The beauty of these extractors is that they screw in in reverse direction and then bottom out, meaning that all he effort goes into turning the screw needing removed in the desired direction. The idea is that you wouldn’t need much purchase, because the screw is not hard to turn (being in plastic), but then, I haven’t had this particular pleasure. Good luck with it anyway.

Another different possibility would be to try a star bit rather than a hex, which might give more ‘bite’ on the screwhead. I find that star bits work fine in hex screws, though it doesn’t always do the bit good.

 
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