Stripping small allen screws

Sim123456 · May 27th, 2011, 20:36

Hi guys! I wanted to know what I could do for this trouble. The very small allen screws, I always end up stripping them. The allen key seem to have very little grip on them. What can I do? Thanks!

Slow · May 27th, 2011, 20:42

Is the allen screw stripped or just the fitting? If it's the fitting drill a tiny hole in the middle and use a screw remover.

Sim123456 · May 27th, 2011, 21:02

It's the crew that is stripped. I already know the trick of cutting a slide with a dremel to use a plate screw driver. I was just wondering what I could do to prevent this to happen in the futur

Ross · May 27th, 2011, 21:05

make sure your screws aren't from china.

Sim123456 · May 27th, 2011, 21:16

lol, that's screws on the VFC M4A1 GBBR so I can't tell about the quality lol

philly0001 · May 27th, 2011, 21:41

Seems VFC uses crappy srews as I have also gotten a stripped screw on my VFC SCAR.

Ross · May 27th, 2011, 21:46

All I can say is don't over tighten the screws. Just snug them. If you really need to make sure they are tight add a teeny tiny sliver of lock tite. Small enough to break with a little force and not totally cement your screw.

Barf · May 27th, 2011, 21:48

What you need are very small hex drivers. I bought a bunch from Japan, because they don't sell the really tiny ones in Canada. It makes adjusting the hop-up on my APS a lot easier.

Sim123456 · May 27th, 2011, 21:50

Ok thanks for the advices. But my problem is removing the already installed screws. I tried to disassemble the VFC GBBR mag and all the screws have red loctite on them so I didn't success without cuting them with a dremel.

Wesman444 · May 27th, 2011, 21:50

Make sure your using the right size.... There most likely metric but you never know. There are also Metric half sizes.

Eien · May 27th, 2011, 22:10

Try and use a torx wrench, it usually works for me when some of my allen screws are stripped.

Gunny_McSmith · May 28th, 2011, 09:59

Are they metric and you are using SAE ones? or vice versa?

Buy a set from Walmart... I belieive it's a Fuller Brand one, comes in a yellow case, has both metric and SAE size, and it has the smallest allen key you'll need... (its basically a small piece of metal wire.... LOL)

They go for 10$.... :P

Sim123456 · May 28th, 2011, 19:28

Thanks for the advices guys!

VooDooPeteK · May 28th, 2011, 20:33

+1 with Gunny I have this set and its great

also use blue not red locktite

I have also use the mastercraft "Grab it" set to remove gearbox screws that were stripped

Steve_U1S · May 29th, 2011, 18:52

Very good quality hex keys can make a big difference - in these tiny increments, the slightest manufacturing variations matter a lot.
And they're pretty certain to be metric.

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May 27th, 2011, 20:36	#1
Sim123456 Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laval	Stripping small allen screws Hi guys! I wanted to know what I could do for this trouble. The very small allen screws, I always end up stripping them. The allen key seem to have very little grip on them. What can I do? Thanks!

May 27th, 2011, 20:42	#2
Slow Loves Furries Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manitoba	Is the allen screw stripped or just the fitting? If it's the fitting drill a tiny hole in the middle and use a screw remover. __________________ If ASC were real life, there would be no Chuck Norris, only CDN_Stalker MANITOBA IVAN

May 27th, 2011, 21:05	#4
Ross Trader rating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Winnipeg	make sure your screws aren't from china. __________________

May 27th, 2011, 21:02	#3
Sim123456 Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laval	It's the crew that is stripped. I already know the trick of cutting a slide with a dremel to use a plate screw driver. I was just wondering what I could do to prevent this to happen in the futur

May 27th, 2011, 21:16	#5
Sim123456 Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laval	lol, that's screws on the VFC M4A1 GBBR so I can't tell about the quality lol

May 27th, 2011, 21:41	#6
philly0001 Trader rating Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: London, ON	Seems VFC uses crappy srews as I have also gotten a stripped screw on my VFC SCAR. __________________ ICS M4A1, VFC SCAR-L, KJW 1911A1, KWA USP COMPACT

May 27th, 2011, 21:46	#7
Ross Trader rating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Winnipeg	All I can say is don't over tighten the screws. Just snug them. If you really need to make sure they are tight add a teeny tiny sliver of lock tite. Small enough to break with a little force and not totally cement your screw. __________________

May 27th, 2011, 21:50	#9
Sim123456 Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laval	Ok thanks for the advices. But my problem is removing the already installed screws. I tried to disassemble the VFC GBBR mag and all the screws have red loctite on them so I didn't success without cuting them with a dremel.

May 27th, 2011, 21:50	#10
Wesman444 Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Greater Sudbury	Make sure your using the right size.... There most likely metric but you never know. There are also Metric half sizes.

May 27th, 2011, 22:10	#11
Eien Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario	Try and use a torx wrench, it usually works for me when some of my allen screws are stripped.

May 28th, 2011, 09:59	#12
Gunny_McSmith a.k.a. Palucol Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MTL	Are they metric and you are using SAE ones? or vice versa? Buy a set from Walmart... I belieive it's a Fuller Brand one, comes in a yellow case, has both metric and SAE size, and it has the smallest allen key you'll need... (its basically a small piece of metal wire.... LOL) They go for 10$.... :P __________________

May 28th, 2011, 19:28	#13
Sim123456 Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Laval	Thanks for the advices guys!

May 28th, 2011, 20:33	#14
VooDooPeteK Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Thorold, Ont	+1 with Gunny I have this set and its great also use blue not red locktite I have also use the mastercraft "Grab it" set to remove gearbox screws that were stripped __________________ http://www.gorillaairsoftradio.com/ Great Airsoft Podcast Gun tech work, Parts, Upgrades and anything else you might need http://www.fortythievesmcnation.com/ Support your local 1%er

May 29th, 2011, 18:52	#15
Steve_U1S Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario	Very good quality hex keys can make a big difference - in these tiny increments, the slightest manufacturing variations matter a lot. And they're pretty certain to be metric.

Stripping small allen screws

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