Any advice for removing stripped screws?

You could grind a slot into it, and use a flat head screwdriver to get it out, kinda like I did here I ground the slot with a cutoff wheel on my Dremel.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Thanks, Damian. I think I’ll go try that. And that is such a cool picture of you grinding a slot!

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

Hope it does the trick, so which table saw did you get? I’m scouting out a new one myself.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

After much research and a limited budget, I ended up with the same Craftsman – 10-inch portable with 30 inch rip capacity on the right (that’s important for what i cut) I ran into the ground over the past two years. I figured since I know its ins and outs and how to quickly set it up, it was the best thing given I have two orders due this week that I haven’t even started on. Ugh. I sell quite a bit of one particular toy box so for that one – Owyn—I have a CNC shop cut the pieces to save me time. The others I cut down from 4×8 plys. Is that too much information?

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

Too much information? No such thing :) I’m a big fan of CNC, if I was running a production shop I’d be all over it. Do you have a panel saw?

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Is there any way to get a needle nose style vise-grip plier on the backside of the screw and either finish screwing it all the thru or turning it back out enough to finish from the outside?

-- Use the fence Luke

Thanks, Doug. I tried that but there’s not enough lip so there’s nothing for the pliers to grip. It’ll be ok. I just screwed it back in since it would work that way and prayed the blade was tight enough and went for it. Damn deadlines made me rush it.

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

You can get and easyout tool

-- - - Tools are nice to have but you need someone to work them - -

Kiersten, you could take a photo to show the problem, as they say a picture takes the place of 1,000 words.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Right now Sears has there ease out 3 pc bits on sale for $10 bucks if you are a craftsmen club member. If not they are $15. Hope this helps. I think the sale ends on Sat 6/7/08.

-- Paul Wylie, Rogers, AR

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I just went on ripping leaving the stripped screw in the blade cover plate completely avoiding it! I think I’ll head to Sears (thanks Paul) and get that Ease out 3 pc bit tomorrow. Turns out, I can’t find my slot grinder attachment for the Dremel because it’s lost somewhere in my crappy 1940s garage. Maybe one of the black widows carried it away.

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

some times you can use a small punch tangent to the head to spin it around, sounds like you had it loose. another trick is to use a drop of super glue to lock driver into the slot (espc for a cammed out philips, but should work on a slot also. I have also heard that dab of valve grinding compound will improve grip, the abrasive digs into the side of the slot and the screwdriver

Keep your screwdriver tips undamaged, A worn tip creates lotsa headaches!

-- Fred, Springfield, Ma

OK, I can’t help it. Your picture and the word “stripped” all at once …. We are only human. Please refrain from doing that any more. Just kidding pretty lady number two ( there’s ONE prettier).

I just noticed, You’re from L.A. ... I grew up in Westchester, then moved to Hermosa Beach then to Redondo Beach. How close were you?

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

Just an FYI, I’ll usually take a small bit but yet big enough to pop the head off the screw and drill into the screw a bit more. Usually at that point I can either hammer (Tap) in a small flat head screw driver. It will usually punch the insides of the screw enough to turn it out. You may have to use some pliers to get a grip strong enough to turn it out but this process has always worked for me.

-- Jerry, Measure 10 times cut once. Set in the foothills of the Smokey's