Hello everyone, I have a problem with one of the shelves in my IKEA Platsa system: the screws seem to be damaged. They are either rusted tight or the inside of the screw head is so damaged that neither a screwdriver nor an Allen key can grip. Now I am faced with the challenge of removing these damaged screws without damaging the wood. Are there any proven methods or special tools that are particularly suitable for disassembling such screws in PLATSA? I look forward to tips that are both practical and gentle on the material.
pikin schrieb:
A pilot hole for the screw extractor should be drilled with a small drill bit to maintain stability.Exactly, that’s a very important point. Especially with IKEA Platsa, the material is thin and breaks easily. So when drilling for the screw extractor, start small, with 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 inches), and only enlarge the hole once the extractor is firmly seated. Using a steady, slow drill speed also helps to prevent overheating and cracking of the material.
Sometimes it’s also worth carefully scoring the edges of the damaged screw with a sharp utility knife beforehand to make room for the screw extractor.
blapau schrieb:
Exactly, that is a very important point. Especially with IKEA PLATSA, the material is thin and breaks easily.Thank you for the detailed explanations. So far, I have applied penetrating oil and tried turning it with a small needle-nose pliers, but without success. The idea of using a screw extractor sounds promising. Could you give me a specific tip on how to best position the hole for the extractor without damaging the material? Should I definitely use a hand drill, or is a cordless drill with a speed controller also okay? The chipboard is quite thin, so I am concerned that a too aggressive approach might damage the wood.