Vent: That internet tip about using a hairdryer on stuck screws is B.S.

Tried it on a 1990s radio I was opening up, just made the plastic casing feel weird and the screw still wouldn't budge. What actually worked was tapping the screwdriver handle with a hammer a few times before turning. Has anyone else found that heat tricks fail on older gear or am I doing it wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

singh.blair8d ago

1980s Sony receiver here, same exact problem. The hairdryer trick just made the old plastic brittle and the screw still felt like it was welded in place. What finally worked for me was a mix of PB Blaster penetrating oil (let it sit for 20 minutes) and then using an impact driver with a #2 Phillips bit. The impact driver broke the rust bond instantly without stripping the head. I swear by that combo now on anything pre-2000. Heat might work on modern stuff but on vintage gear it seems like it just bakes the corrosion on harder.

andrewh957d ago

Hold up, is stripping screw heads really that common on old gear? I've worked on a few 80s receivers and never had a screw that bad. Maybe I got lucky but a drop of WD-40 and a tight fitting bit always did the trick for me. What are you people doing to these things to get them that stuck?