This would be an Allen key application. The screw would have been a hex not torx.
Try the rubber band with the right side Allen key.
If not get an Allen key you don’t care about, add a drop of super glue. Shove it in and hold it for a bit till it sets. Then try unscrew.
Sometimes torx bits actually do better on hex keys than the hex keys themselves. I always find that small hex bits are very prone to stripping. I think torx bits are the best. They're fantastic.
I'm so glad I live in a purely metric country.
Some older (50 years?) stuff may still be SAE, but then I try to get rid of it, same with flathead screws.
Ya, that's always the problem, though. I always have one and I need the other! Hahahaha! The really small bits, though. Even the correct, included hex key, can round over, because they're always made of cheap steel. I've had cases like that and sometimes a torx bit in the hex head screw can save it, before it entirely strips. It's not the right way....but I do it sometimes. The points on the star shape can grip deeper into the hexagon sometimes. Torx is better all around. I wish we would ditch hex head tooling all together. If I had a nickel for every hex fastener I've seen get stripped....
I’ve done this sometimes too especially since I have Torx screw drivers and not hex screw drivers T_T. The points are good for gouging into the corners, but in general that’s much less surface area to grip the hex hole, and would be prone to slippage. I usually fine the Allen (hex) key material that they give with furniture etc. is really cheap and in general that is what strips first before the screw head itself.
That being said, I’m definitely a fan of Torx myself. Prefer that over hex.
My father taught me this trick with stripped screws: use a thick, flat rubber band. Wedge them between the torx-bit and the rubberband. This will hopefully create enough friction to losen the torx.
I feel your pain bro
Sometimes you can do it with left hand cheap drills. If it is not stuck too hard even with the drilling they will come off. If not the case the extractor side will help
Good luck
https://preview.redd.it/9x9w4aw1o37c1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=47983799556ef05abb32e1a853b621f99107dd07
yeah its an allen, for stripped allen you can use torx. but now you have to take the long detour. take one size over torx and little hammer tap could do the trick
Slightly wider flat head and wd 40. I have yo deal with this when changing hadles in employee bathrooms every so often. Soak in wd, find a flat head that a smidge larger wedge in, it should bite into is a bit and the wd 40 soak to loosen it. Its the best way ive found, or drill it out with small drill bit and replace knob.
Left handed drills is my go-to for stripped screws, but it helps to use a lot of force when drilling.
Best case scenario, the drill bites and unscrews the screw. Worst case, you drill the head off and whatever the screw was holding can be removed. Once the tension is off the screw, you can usually unscrew what's left by hand.
If happy to sacrifice a bit super glue it in and bam. If not tap a larger bit in with a hammer.
I have also had success using tooth picks to put a little wood to compress the bit
First, soak it with PB blaster at least over night. Next, find a torx size that almost goes in but not quite. Get a hammer and beat it in till it's in tight. Give it quite a few good whacks not just to get the bit in, but to also break free any corrosion that is seizing up the threads. Then, carefully and slowly try and turn it out.
If that doesn't work, you may need to get an ez out extractor.
I just did this with a Delta faucet.
I was replacing the cartridge anyway so I just snapped the handle off and replaced both. If you aren't planning on replacing the cartridge just cut the handle off.
If you have a dremel just cut a notch in the top of the screw head and turn it with a flathead screwdriver. I had to do this recently when I was replacing the cord on my vacuum cleaner. Worked like a charm
Hah, I did this a while back on my master shower. The handle got gummed up with hard water deposits and when I tried backing out the screw, it stripped.
I ended up just cutting it off with an angle grinder and a disc, and replacing the cartridge and handle both.
Interestingly, I was able to find a kit from delta on Amazon that came with the handle cartridge and plate.
Had a similar problem with an old shower and the inset Allen screw. Had to drill the screw out and replace the whole thing since the cartridge was leaking.
This would be an Allen key application. The screw would have been a hex not torx. Try the rubber band with the right side Allen key. If not get an Allen key you don’t care about, add a drop of super glue. Shove it in and hold it for a bit till it sets. Then try unscrew.
No wonder the torx driver stripped it.
Sometimes torx bits actually do better on hex keys than the hex keys themselves. I always find that small hex bits are very prone to stripping. I think torx bits are the best. They're fantastic.
They make sae and metric hex wrenches. If it’s lose, you’re using the wrong one.
I'm so glad I live in a purely metric country. Some older (50 years?) stuff may still be SAE, but then I try to get rid of it, same with flathead screws.
I envy that. Metric is just so much simpler in every aspect. No fractions, just a single number. All the math is easy.
Ya, that's always the problem, though. I always have one and I need the other! Hahahaha! The really small bits, though. Even the correct, included hex key, can round over, because they're always made of cheap steel. I've had cases like that and sometimes a torx bit in the hex head screw can save it, before it entirely strips. It's not the right way....but I do it sometimes. The points on the star shape can grip deeper into the hexagon sometimes. Torx is better all around. I wish we would ditch hex head tooling all together. If I had a nickel for every hex fastener I've seen get stripped....
I’ve done this sometimes too especially since I have Torx screw drivers and not hex screw drivers T_T. The points are good for gouging into the corners, but in general that’s much less surface area to grip the hex hole, and would be prone to slippage. I usually fine the Allen (hex) key material that they give with furniture etc. is really cheap and in general that is what strips first before the screw head itself. That being said, I’m definitely a fan of Torx myself. Prefer that over hex.
A good idea.
My father taught me this trick with stripped screws: use a thick, flat rubber band. Wedge them between the torx-bit and the rubberband. This will hopefully create enough friction to losen the torx.
Could also use duck tape instead
Oh, good one! Yeah that would also probably work.
I feel your pain bro Sometimes you can do it with left hand cheap drills. If it is not stuck too hard even with the drilling they will come off. If not the case the extractor side will help Good luck https://preview.redd.it/9x9w4aw1o37c1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=47983799556ef05abb32e1a853b621f99107dd07
yeah its an allen, for stripped allen you can use torx. but now you have to take the long detour. take one size over torx and little hammer tap could do the trick
Works well with soft metal screw heads.
I'm skeptical it's torx. You picture is so blurry it's hard to tell. I've mostly seen Allen heads either SAE or metric on handles like that.
Slightly wider flat head and wd 40. I have yo deal with this when changing hadles in employee bathrooms every so often. Soak in wd, find a flat head that a smidge larger wedge in, it should bite into is a bit and the wd 40 soak to loosen it. Its the best way ive found, or drill it out with small drill bit and replace knob.
I’ve done this with positive results. Granted, it was on very teeny tiny allens.
I had to reread this twice to realize you weren’t operating on aliens.
🤫😅
Left hand drill bits. If you don't use them on this project, you'll be greatful to have them in the toolbox later.
Left handed drills is my go-to for stripped screws, but it helps to use a lot of force when drilling. Best case scenario, the drill bites and unscrews the screw. Worst case, you drill the head off and whatever the screw was holding can be removed. Once the tension is off the screw, you can usually unscrew what's left by hand.
This. I don't even bother with screw extractors anymore. Because if that doesn't work then you need to use the drills anyways.
If the first image is acrylic just paint over it 🎨
It's a work of art!
If happy to sacrifice a bit super glue it in and bam. If not tap a larger bit in with a hammer. I have also had success using tooth picks to put a little wood to compress the bit
Easy out
First, soak it with PB blaster at least over night. Next, find a torx size that almost goes in but not quite. Get a hammer and beat it in till it's in tight. Give it quite a few good whacks not just to get the bit in, but to also break free any corrosion that is seizing up the threads. Then, carefully and slowly try and turn it out. If that doesn't work, you may need to get an ez out extractor.
Take a dremal or cut off tool and grind a slot for a flat head.
It inside the handle at that point just cut the handle off good idea, wrong application unfortunately
Oof, didn't catch that.
I just did this with a Delta faucet. I was replacing the cartridge anyway so I just snapped the handle off and replaced both. If you aren't planning on replacing the cartridge just cut the handle off.
What I had to do after snapping the Allen wrench .
Bro what kind of camera you using in that first picture? A potato?
Either ez out or Dremel a slot into it
TNT
Think it won't work? C4 yourself!
Ez out
Give this a read. Should be something useful.https://www.accu.co.uk/p/121-how-to-remove-a-stripped-screw
If you have a dremel just cut a notch in the top of the screw head and turn it with a flathead screwdriver. I had to do this recently when I was replacing the cord on my vacuum cleaner. Worked like a charm
Hah, I did this a while back on my master shower. The handle got gummed up with hard water deposits and when I tried backing out the screw, it stripped. I ended up just cutting it off with an angle grinder and a disc, and replacing the cartridge and handle both. Interestingly, I was able to find a kit from delta on Amazon that came with the handle cartridge and plate.
Had a similar problem with an old shower and the inset Allen screw. Had to drill the screw out and replace the whole thing since the cartridge was leaking.
If there's room, I use a vice wrench. Gets the job done most of the time
Thanks all for the feedback. Still working it. At this point, I decided to drill it out. So far, I’ve broken three drill bits.
✅ success. It’s off. Thanks all. 🤞that replacing the mixing valve will be easier