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I bought the Precision Screw Extractor Set to try to remove a stripped screw for a iPhone 4, but the smallest extractor is still too big for the screw. Any other tips for removing small stripped screws?
Which screw is stripped? A small slotted screwdriver (flathead screwdriver) can sometimes work. A small screw driver with a tiny dab of superglue on tip, hold to screw perfectly still, let dry, then unscrew. Take old plastic pen, heat till surface melts, press into screw head to make impression of screw head, let it cool-harden again, use as screwdriver to remove screw. Sometimes just a new screwdriver helps, because screwdrivers wear out, and a new one may have just enough bite to get the stripped screw out.
I just had this problem tonight. The screw holding in the battery on an iPhone4 is easily stripped. After trying everything I could think of and searching online for a solution, I ended up breaking out my electric drill and a drill bit slightly larger than the hole in the stripped screw. I set the drill to turn in the same direction as will unscrew the screw, and carefully placed the bit on the screw -holding very carefully of course- and hit power. At first the bit didn’t seem to be doing anything, but as soon as it caught in the screw hole the torque just spun the screw right out. I replaced the battery and didn’t have another screw to put in so for now I’ve left it out until I can order a replacement. Phone works fine. If you’re frustrated enough to try this yourself, hopefully it works for you as it did for me.
Personnally, I have been to Canadian Tire to buy a Dremel tool. I used the smallest of the rotative tool to create a space to use a flathead to twist the screw… It worked perfectly !
You can try this but i must warn you to be VERY CAUTIOUS in what you are doing. I used this method and it was successful for me, but then again, it was a small screw. I am not responsible for any damage done to your phone :) Ok, so i took a power drill and used it on the top screw of the EMF protection shield. The screw was stripped so I took the smallest drill bit i could find that would just fit the circumference of the screw. Then, very carefully screw into it, completely making the screw into a bowl. Next, switched directions of the drill, used a little force and went slow….next thing i know the screw is out. You can try this but just be careful and don’t break anything. GOOD LUCK! Let me Know if you need anything else.;
I had two stripped screws on the inner casing (both were the type with washers). Two of the final ten you need to remove before you can pop out the screen. They were in the same location, just on opposite sides, very odd. It took me nearly two hours, and multiple different methods to get them out; including the super glue and melted pen cap. I finally had to use my sisters hemostat clamps (thank god for nurses) to grip the washers and turn them. It took a long while, but after much patience it worked. Im sure you could also use a small set of pliers to achieve the same result. I ended up just leaving those two screws out when I reassembled, and my phone works just fine.
Same problem. The screw head on one of the screws holding the battery contact was stripped badly and I had no super glue or drill or dremel handy so I decided to use the pentalobe screw driver used for the two screws holding the back plate on. IT WORKED! I guess the points on the pentalobe gave just enough grip to loosen the screw.
I also had an internal screw that was stripped on an iphone 4. Tried several different things but the one that finally worked for me was using a large rubber band. For those who haven’t seen this trick, all you do is take a large rubber band and lay over the screw. It will fill in the negative space where it is stripped. Use the normal phillips heads screw driver and turn it very slow. It worked for me. I had tried for a couple of hours before this and was already very frustrated and had no faith. Am very thankful that it worked. I have no replacement screw and haven’t put phone back together yet. Am hoping for as much luck in that it works without a replacement. At least this will help you get the screw out . Good luck
After 45 minutes of trying unsuccessfully different techniques, I took a screw driver that had come with an iphone replacement batterie), I lit a candle and heated its tip for no longer than 15 seconds, applied to the screw ( holding the iPad 2 power button bracket) and to my amazement , the screw CAME RIGHT OFF!
