[pianotech] Plate screw problem

[Don Mannino]

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.....