[Test-Equipment] Difficult Allen Screws

[Jerry Kincade]

This kind of falls under the heading of "if all else fails", but if it's
really critical that you get the allen out, dab a tad of JB Weld on the end
of the closest-fitting allen wrench you have, stick it in there, and go away
for a day. Come back, remove the allen screw, grind off the screw that's now
permanently attached to the end of the allen wrench, and go on about your
business with a slightly shorter allen wrench. Allen wrenches are cheap.
I've done this before rather than trying to drill out the allen screw,
because they are HARD as a general rule, sometimes harder than your drill
bit, and this method avoids boogering up the threads in the knob or whatever
with the drill bit. Just be careful not to get the JB weld anywhere except
in the allen screw hole. :-)
Jerry W5KP

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr M J DiGirolamo" <DrD at 2020.com>
To: <test-equipment at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 12:18 AM
Subject: [Test-Equipment] Difficult Allen Screws


> Dear Colleagues,
>
>          I need some help and or tips on how to remove frozen Allen
> set-screws like the ones found on equipment knobs.
>
>          The typical scenario happens when trying to remove a stubborn set
> screw. The Allen wrench "slips" and rounds the insertion pattern
> slightly.  Has anyone heard of a slightly oversized set of Allen wrenches
> (on the order of .001" - .002") or is this the wrong approach?  If they
> exist, who supplies them?
>
>      Any comments and/or suggestions are welcome.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike DiGirolamo, W4XN
> Charlottesville, VA 22901
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