How can I avoid tear out when removing screws

tcvc · Post by **tcvc** » Sun May 02, 2010 2:42 pm

I need to take some of the deck planking off my Thompson TVT so I can make some repairs. This had expsoed brass wood screws into mahogany tounge and groove. Everytime i try to back a screw out I get a tear out, little slivers of the wood around the screw comes off. Is there a way to avoid this??
Thanks

LancerBoy · Post by **LancerBoy** » Sun May 02, 2010 3:01 pm

Make certain that the daimeter of the screw size is clear of varnish or whatever else may be in the screw and just go slowly. Use an awl or ice pick to clear any stuff away. It may be inevitable tho.

Andreas

JoeCB · Post by **JoeCB** » Sun May 02, 2010 3:16 pm

OK, this is just a guess, but a guess from a ole' tooling engineer. Make or find a small metal plate (washer) with a hole the exact size of the screw head. Hold the plate down tightly to the deck and remove the screw thru the hole in the plate. First clean out the hole as suggested above.
Let us know if this works
Joe B

LancerBoy · Post by **LancerBoy** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:25 pm

Excellent suggesiton Joe!

Andreas

tcvc · Post by **tcvc** » Tue May 04, 2010 5:38 pm

Sounds like a good idea to me. I am going to make the plate out of plex glass so I can see what I am doing and also see if it is causing any damage. Thanks I'll let you know how I make out.

tcvc · Post by **tcvc** » Sat May 15, 2010 6:33 pm

Ok I got around to trying it. I made mine ouit of 1/4" plex glassso I could see what I was doing. I worked great!! I made 3 of them so I didn't have to go hunting around for it , there would always be one sitting close by. Thanks again

tcvc wrote:Sounds like a good idea to me. I am going to make the plate out of plex glass so I can see what I am doing and also see if it is causing any damage. Thanks I'll let you know how I make out.