Removing stainless steel trim head screws

[Dick Snyder]

Without going into a lot of detail, I have to remove about 200 stainless steel trim head screws from a deck made of Cambara. When I have used my power drill in the past, the heads have broken off because the stainless steel is soft. If I grip my T-10 bit in a vice grip, I can slowly ease the #8 x 2 1/2" screws out but I am hoping to find a faster solution. The base of the T-10 bit will not fit in any of my english or metric sockets (just a hair lose in 1/4" and too tight in 7/32"). I wish when my dad died 30 years ago that I had taken the brace from his tool collection but I not. The ideal tool would be a 3 jaw reversible ratchet brace but they are expensive. I can't find a neighbor that has a brace. Does anyone have a better idea than my vice grip?

TIA.

Dick Snyder Souothborough, MA

[Ed Pawlowski]

Wow, I just looked at the price of a ratchet brace and was surprised. Mine is about 50 years old and rarely used.

I do have a thought. How about a T handle used to hod a tap? If you give the screw a turn or so, will that loosed it enough to come out with the power drill and not break?

[Unquestionably Confused]

Along the same lines (more or less), how about an adjustable torque impact driver? I have a little Bosch 12v that really does a nice job removing and setting screws. You can adjust the force applied (on or off) and I find that little bit of vibration - just enough to rock its world but not enough to torque it off - usually does the trick.

[-MIKE-]

My first thought would be a stripped screw extractor. They work pretty well and you can get fairly fast at it.

Are you removing/replacing the decking boards? If so, why not cut the screws off underneath the decking? A sawzall with a bi-metal blade would make quick work of it.

[Larry Kraus]

Get a T-10 bit with a standard 1/4" base. Or shim the one you have.

[J. Clarke]

A couple of options come to mind:

Lowes has in stock for pickup today (in the several stores nearest Southborough, MA) a 1/4" drive T-10 torx socket item 338200 model

85998 for $1.98. It's Kobalt brand, have no idea how well it will hold up, but you should be able to use it with your socket set more conveniently than a hex bit.

Lee Valley has for $11.50 an adapter that holds 1/4" hex bits in a _4_ point brace, which if you don't have one are available for cheap on Amazon ($12-30 range for Chinese).

[Spalted Walt]

Break the screws loose by hand with a ratchet & 1/4" socket, then use the drill/magnetic nut driver/T-10 to remove.

[Clare Snyder]

try an impact driver

[Markem]

Do you have a speed wrench in your socket set? Same idea as a brace

1/4 inch socket with a bit of slick tape on the bit to take up the slack.

[Spalted Walt]

if needed:

[Clare Snyder]

what's wrong with a bit-holder socket? the magnetic ones are nice and available pretty cheap - but the ones with a spring work just as well and are even cheaper.

[Markem]

Nothing but if you have not got one and you have other tools, so I was just suggesting ideas.

[Clare Snyder]

I.ve found using the right tool for the job is generally a LOT simpler

[DerbyDad03]

A wise man once said to me "If you are working too hard, you are probably using the wrong tool."

[whit3rd]

Well, for a deck you'd be comfortable standing on, I'd get some iron pipe and fit a T handle to one end, and weld a T-10 shank, or the shank of a screwdriver that accepts T-10 bits, to the other end. If you don't have welders, epoxy and wood can make a suitable handle.

Yeah, it's a bit of work, but hunched over at floor level is not my idea of quality time...

[Markem]

Okay be as you will be, but right may not be what someone has.

[DerbyDad03]

But right is something that one can often get.

The OP has indicated a willingness to purchase/borrow the right tool, so he's certainly not limited to using only what he has.

[Dick Snyder]

This is a good idea. I am replacing the deck boards but am unable to cut off anything below. If I can get t-10 with a standards base, I would be able to use my stanard socket wrench which will get the job done quickly.

Thanks.

Dick

[Dick Snyder]

Thanks to all who replied. This rec is always so helpful. After reading all replies, my plan is to get a T-10 bit with a standard 1/4" base which will work with my socket set. Loosening the screws will go quickly then. Once I back them out a couple of turns I can remove them without any breakage.

Thanks again all!

Dick Snyder

[Markem]