Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

[madgadget]

Hi all Around the edge of my grp boat it has an aluminium trim strip. This is held on by LOADS of rusted stainless screws, like one every 5 inches. The heads are no longer any good at all and I would like to find a way to remove the strip without destroying it.

I tried some high quality HSS drill bits, but the the abrasiveness of the rust just ate through them, before I could even get to the steel.

Any ideas?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

This is held on by LOADS of rusted stainless screws, like one every 5 inches.I tried some high quality HSS drill bits, but the the abrasiveness of the rust just ate through them, before I could even get to the steel.

Ayuh,... Your post is Very confusing,....

SSteel screws Don't Rust.... SSteel screws are a Very Soft metal....

Donno what you've got there,...
You might try a cobalt or carbide drill,....
Otherwise,... Grab the Grinder....

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Ill grab a picture. Probably easiest.

 

[SKIBUM1M]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

the heads of my screws were worn out so a bit wouldnt turn some of them. I used "screw outs" Craftsman makes them for sears and they fit in a drill turned at slow speed. they rustier and more jagged the better they will grip. they only cost about $20 for a set and are worth keeping around.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Just plain old zinc plated screws rust not stainless, I've had pretty good luck with my klein sidecutters by comming striaight in on the screw head and getting a bite, twist and bust the head off.

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Here we go:

Perhaps they are not stainless. All I know is that I went to Machinemart got the best HSS bits they had and blunted them on the first screw..

That was with cutting fluid and at the correct cutting speed.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Ayuh,... So grab your 4" grinder,+ cut the heads off, Punch 'em in,+ pull the rail...
Just use the Edge of the grinding wheel...

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Yep I think that is going to be the only way. I'll have a go tomorrow if its not raining....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Oh man, why so many screws in there? guy must have been a sheetmetal worker and trying out his new screwgun lol.
Your going to get sick of doing those before it's finished, just leave one every few feet or so to hold in place while your working.
You should try a larger bit ( 3/8 - 7/16 ) to take out the head and not the shank.

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

That's exactly what I was thinking. WHY SO MANY. Oh well! I'll see how it goes, I wanted to see how viable it would be to remove that strip then cut the upper and lower half's apart to replace the transom + some other minor bits.

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Just had another thought, I wonder if I could take a small hole cutter and cut around the screws, it would save almost destroying the alu strip perhaps, then I can easily grind what's left off after with a grinder.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

i had a simular problem, mine were ss screws holding aluminum.
have a heavy duty die grinder i used for porting heads and put a 3" composite wheel on it.
kind of an art but work the wheel back and forth slow amost like you milling the heads off.
never once touched aluminum and got all the heads off, took a long time.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Maybe leave all those rusted screws where they are and add just a few "real" stainless steel screws here and there to hold the strip in place if the rusted screws ever really die, put the rubber strip back on and save yourself all the hassle of removing all those screws that really aren't going to cause you any problem anyway. Just a thought! Good Luck!

 

[DukesFin]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

The drill bit you NEED is called a COBALT bit... Not the brand name, but the hardness of the bit is called cobalt. They are made to drill out hardened steel and will not dull on those little rusty screws. I used one to drill out the heads of 18 1/4" screws. It's still sharp.

Once I drilled the heads off and pulled the part off, I could use vice grips to unscrew what was left.

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Just ordered two Bosch cobalt bits. Ill see how that does. I can't see it working however, hopefully I'm wrong lol

 

[SKIBUM1M]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

if youy have a decent compressor use an angle grinder with a carbide burr to grind the heads off the screws and once the rails off the screws come out real easy with vicegrips.
I have a set of cobalt bits from mac tools and they are guarenteed forever against dulling and breaking. I have had many replaced but they are much better than hss bits

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

I have cobalt reverse drill bits made by matco, 5 of them costededed me..........100 or so bux. Probably used 2 of them.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Have a .22 and steady aim?

 

[madgadget]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Not in the UK lol!!!

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Removing rusted stainless screws holding a trim strip

Yes, cobalt drill bit and slow speed