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Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:09 am Post subject: Stripped, "Unremovable" Allen Nut

One of the allen nut heads in a planer was so tight, it stripped when trying to remove it when trying to get at the knives in the planer. Any ideas on how to get it out?

diyguy · Site Admin Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 147

Try using an Easy Out (screw extractor and bolt extractor). The easy out bit requires you drill a predetermined hole directly down the center of the screw. Then tap in the easy out bit and turn it to remove the damaged screw. Sounds easy enough but may not be. Drilling the hole directly in the center of the damaged screw without a drill press may be difficult.

If you have never used an easy out bit, it may be worth asking a machine shop to remove the allen head screw. That call is up to you.

Use caution drilling. If the hole isn't exactly centered, the screw may become damaged upon removal, all of it may not come out or the existing threads in the body of the planner could become damaged.

Damaged threads may need to be cleaned up with a thread chaser tool or totally re-threaded with a threading tool (tapper).

MachineToolGuy · Guest

A little oil on threads may help. If you have not rounded out (stripped) the hex socket in the bolt already, take a punch and place it on the head of the bolt and whack it with a hammer. Now try to loosen it. If that did not work, then try a center punch or a small pointed tap (say 1/4-20) and put the point out near the edge of the bolt and whack it with a hammer.

If it's stripped, try center-punching out near the edge of the head, whack it with hammer. Then tip the punch and tap it with a hammer and try to unscrew it. Use a punch that is larger that the socket, place it over the socket and whack it. That will close the socket up and the wrench will fit tight again. You should always give flatheads a good whack before trying to loosening them.

BillS · Guest

If the machine’s threads do become slightly damaged somewhere during the entire process, a thread chaser tool may cleanup the threads enough to allow a new allen head screw to be used. If not, drilling out the damaged threads and cutting in new threads one size larger should be possible. Be sure to use an ample quantity of cutting fluid (oil).

You can also clean the threads on the other screws with a wire brush to remove any rust, debris, etc. prior to reinstallation. Also use an internal thread cleaner tool to clean out the threads in the other holes on the machine.

Using a light weight grease, thread lube or oil on the threads of the screws prior to reinstallation should be okay.