How to remove broken faceplate screw from outlet?
- Thread starter wahoowad
- Start date
Lorydr
Well-known member
Save your time & effort by changing just the outlet for a new one. They are cheap enough.
This is a very good suggestion.
X2 on replacing the outlet . but if it is plastic screw, a small slotted screwdriver heated up and pushed in to create a new slot would probably get it out.
rooster59
Well-known member
Really? Now there’s plastic screws In a faceplate? ***** much totally
Ultradog MN
Well-known member
Sheesh...
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Just turn the main breaker off if you can't figure out what circuit it's on. There's absolutely no reason to do it while it's energized.
logical
Well-known member
I'm not so sure that isn't actually a great idea if you were tying them in all day long
I've worked in many buildings with tons of computers running. Electrical panel not marked, and the owner wouldn't permit the main turned off. Plus they wouldn't pay me to come in on Sunday to do it when the office is largely empty. So for one desk outlet that needed replacing, this tool would have come in handy.
It's more of a homeowner/DIY tool for the occasional problem. Or folks with arthritis - holding a small weird shaped receptacle is difficult. But this thing might actually help.
My brother has tried to get me to give him this tool, and he works on alot more 115v jobs than I do. So there seems to be a place for it.
JohnX14
Well-known member
Even licensed electricians "shouldn't" change devices when energized. That said, we all do it. That tool looks useful. I would highly recommend the OP change the device de-energized.
Ultradog MN
Well-known member
I will never need one but if you think it is a worthy device then buy it and enjoy it.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
There is no such thing as 115v system.....It's been 120/240v since the mid 1930s
Potato, potatoe!
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Accuracy is important!Potato, potatoe!
I shows your level of knowledge and competence.
andys
Well-known member
Bolded for emphasis and ironyAccuracy is important!
I shows your level of knowledge and competence.
JohnX14
Well-known member
I've regularly heard it referred to as 110/ 220 vs. 120/ 240V over my career/ life. I think my father still occasionally calls it 110/ 220. He's been an electricain since the early '60's. (as well as a certified IAEI wiring inspector from the early '90's) We all know the power companies, codes, and license exams are based on 120/ 240. I never paid attention, but I'm sure I've said 1000X "do you have 220 there" when working on something with my crews.
Can't everybody give a little?It can be funny when someone else does it though
I feel like there certain things that if you have to ask, then you probably don't have any business attempting yourselfIn the time this thread has taken to write the comments the receptacle could have been replaced & tools put away.
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MichaelP
Well-known member
In the spirit of GJ, the OP should buy a Faceplate Broken Screw Removal Kit. Preferably, by Snap-On. With orange handles.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
FIFY. Only $2779 on eBay, they're the really super rare collectable ones... Orange is so yesterday.
Shiftless
Well-known member
You beat me to it. Linked to other soon to be classic postings. Go with teal handles.
I prefer saving my money, and therefore go for the HF Pittsburgh model....
Chuckster in NJ
Well-known member
X2 ^In the time this thread has taken to write the comments the receptacle could have been replaced & tools put away.
What I find amazing is the number of replies to a "crank yanker" post.
Perhaps true. But sometimes you just have to take the time to fix things that never should have broken. You have to show your stuff who the boss is. Otherwise the revolution will spread.
I would drill out the screw and then get one of those clip on nuts and a longer screw for the cover plate. Super glue and a regular nut would work too
Don’t let the bastards win.
MichaelP
Well-known member
... or be a professional metalworker and use either Duct Tape or JB Weld.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Imagine the reaction of the next homeowner who discovered that some amateur electrician globed a big load of JB Weld onto the back of a faceplate and pushed it onto the wall and receptacle box.
I hope your kidding....
I'm not even sure this is possible, let alone practical when an outlet is $5
MichaelP
Well-known member
Sorry! Internet is not always conductive to sarcasm.
It was my reaction to the crazy glue suggestion (which, I'm sure, was a joke too).
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Shiftless
Well-known member
Of course I reacted to your funny post. I should have added an emoticon to indicate my mood.Sorry! Internet is not always conductive to sarcasm.
Shiftless
Well-known member
How about suggesting that the O.P. remove the receptacle. Mount it in his cross slide drill press vise and carefully drill out the broken plastic screw with a tiny left hand bit. If the screw doesn’t pop out doing that, just tap the hole for the next biggest thread size and put it all back together with a bigger machine screw. ???Sorry! Internet is not always conductive to sarcasm.
lolaetype
Well-known member
Change the receptacle, no question about that; and shut off the breaker first - no question about that either.
If you want to remove the broken plastic screw from the old receptacle heat up the end of a really small slotted screwdriver and push it into the end of the broken off screw. Wait a minute for it to cool and use the screwdriver to turn the screw out, that's counterclockwise or anticlockwise for you Brits.
If you want to remove the broken plastic screw from the old receptacle heat up the end of a really small slotted screwdriver and push it into the end of the broken off screw. Wait a minute for it to cool and use the screwdriver to turn the screw out, that's counterclockwise or anticlockwise for you Brits.
MichaelP
Well-known member
Would it be clockwise for Aussies?
johnre
Well-known member
Everyone here is avoiding the elephant in the room.
Which is, "how am I ever supposed to safely use one of these adapters if that center screw is nylon?".
Which is, "how am I ever supposed to safely use one of these adapters if that center screw is nylon?".
niget2002
Well-known member
If it really is a plastic screw, I'd just melt it out with my soldering iron. Then I'd screw a new metal one in.
When we moved into our last house the previous owner had replaced a bunch of outlet covers with white ones, but for some reason still had the ivory screws in them. I bought a package of replacement screws off Amazon. 15 years later and I still haven't used all the screws in that set.
When we moved into our last house the previous owner had replaced a bunch of outlet covers with white ones, but for some reason still had the ivory screws in them. I bought a package of replacement screws off Amazon. 15 years later and I still haven't used all the screws in that set.
That would be a serious mistake. Much better to put the JB Weld in the screw hole, let it dry, then drill an appropriate size hole in the cured JB weld.
A penney saved is a penny earned.