David, Don't you just hate it when that happens? A few options, depending on the particulars of this plate hole and location: - The hollow tube type screw extractor drills would work if the plate hole is large enough. It would have to be a tight fit in the plate, then would just barely go around the broken screw. So maybe not going to work. - Is it possible to drill up from the bottom? Sounds like it isn't because of the location. - Best possibility I can think of is to use a LARGE drill, about the same size as the plate hole, to drill down on top of the broken screw. I'm not completely sure from your description if a long section of drill bit is also stuck in there, or just little pieces. Little pieces shouldn't be a problem, but a jammed drill bit section might be. In any case, going gently with a large drill but, spinning at a good speed bit with light pressure, should at least allow you to create a flat top on the screw. If the screw is large enough, that will then create a good surface to drill with a small bit, then try an easy-out on an extension. If this is the original screw, it should not be that tight in the wood. If the screw is too small for an easy-out, a patient drilling all the way through with the large bit is the best option. Then make a plug of pinblock material, glue that in, and when dry drill a new hole and put in a new screw. I am sure that others have also had this happen, so hopefully someone will have other ideas. Good luck! Don Mannino -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Renaud Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 7:46 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] Plate screw problem Plate screw snapped putting it back in.....old screw.....
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