I Screwed Up (Literally)

[jojo]

So I was screwing snaps into the windshield, and didn't drill the hole big enough. So when I screwed the snap stud in the head broke off of the screw. There is a little bit sticking out. Anybody know how to get this out of the aluminum? Should I file it down? Drill it out? Move out of town?

[brmax]

Spray a bit of wd40 and at the (little bit sticking out ? ) and by the way this is stupid crazy but I have did this in a clip ; ) with some big size clippers, or hemostats/medical things, or if lucky tiny vise grips.

As my old mentor taught "this critical part" slowly back & forth do this 20 times with out seeing it move then you have the wee bit motion correct, so about then it does actually move and you spinner out like a new prop.

I hope this helps and I'm cheering for ya, I cannot count how many times I have did this  ::)

Good luck on your mission and better days ahead
Floyd

[SteveA]

If there is enough to grab - maybe a wire cutters can pinch it enough to turn.  I grind my wire cutters to a point on the grinder - also helps for pulling nails from wood just below the surface.  Just don't overheat or grind the tip too much.
Alternatively get the dremel and level the surface.  Than with a tiny bit make a small concave hole in the screw so a drill bit won't wander. Use a colbalt bit - I get them in Sears.  Drill it out - good luck - don't move it's too expensive !

SA

[Darren Henry]

If vise grips won't bite onto what is sticking out file it down and drill a new hole just beside the broken one for the new snap. the new snap will cover the broken screw.

[Mike]

Darren beat me.   Been there too mary times myself. Good luck.
Could have been alot worse. Drilled to deepmtouched the golass and shatter. Been there too once.

[Darren Henry]

Drilled to deepmtouched the golass and shatter

I didn't go too deep. The bone heads that glazed the window didn't leave the usual 1/4 " gap between the edge of the glass and the outside of the frame. 43' cabin cruiser, port side windshield,Friday afternoon on a long weekend, tempered glass, and the owners was coming from 2-3 hours away to live on their boat. Luckily the owner of the local glass shop was a neighbour and sled head buddy of my boss and in the same snowmobile club as me. And it was a flat piece of glass. That was not a good day, but we "got 'er dun!"

How did you make out Jojo?