http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Handy person recommendation? en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:14:09 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375826 Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:48:46 +0000 gembo 375826@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Costive as Leopold Bloom said. Cascara Sagrada. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375823 Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:13:24 +0000 cb 375823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>But was it satisfying when they started turning? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375809 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:51:02 +0000 chdot 375809@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CCE strikes again! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375808 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:25:58 +0000 MrSRD 375808@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Success!</p> <p>I got a different sort of paint stripper and went slightly afar (Hermiston Gate) in search of a closer-fit screwdriver.</p> <p>Was then able to get the two recalcitrant screws out, without too much bother.</p> <p>Thanks again for the useful suggestions and support! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375807 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:27:27 +0000 MrSRD 375807@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll go in search of a more suitable screw driver and then 'give it a bash' (NPI).</p> <p>I'm mainly concerned with getting the hinge plate off, but it would be nice to do so 'cleanly'.</p> <p>Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375806 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:23:01 +0000 Arellcat 375806@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A Stanley knife shouldn't damage the screw heads much, as you're trying to cut metal with a very thin knife.</p> <p>My approach would be to find a large flat screwdriver, as large as the head will allow, and a hammer. Bang the tip of the screwdriver into the head of the screw, and hit it while turning it to shock it into unscrewing. If you can get it to turn a couple of times it will be exposed enough to either carry on unscrewing, or grasp with the mole grips/vise grips if needed.</p> <p>The main risk is inadvertently breaking off the screw head, which can happen to very rusty screws. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375805 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:01:01 +0000 MrSRD 375805@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is what I've been using to 'scrape':</p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-0hwBdExKOHNiDzStHoRVXp6en6FuIKV/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-0hwBdExKOHNiDzStHoRVXp6en6FuIKV/view?usp=sharing</a></p> <p>Will try with a Stanley knife as well, but it just seems to be damaging the head.</p> <p>Was able to get the other 14 screws out (relatively) easily, but the last two were very tightly screwed in or especially painted over ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375804 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:45:35 +0000 neddie 375804@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Start with small drill bit. </blockquote></p> <p>Before starting to drill into metal, you need to centre the drill by giving the metal/screw a good whack with a centre-punch. Otherwise your drill will wobble about all over the place, and miss the screw entirely </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375803 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:44:03 +0000 chdot 375803@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Actually, re-looking at photo, trying to “scrape out” worth trying first. </p> <p>Optimum probably Stanley knife, but small screwdriver or even chisel…</p> <p>Then a ‘sharp’ screwdriver that fits the width and length of slot with a big enough handle to get a good grip. </p> <p>Never easy. </p> <p>Satisfying when screw starts moving! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375802 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:39:00 +0000 Baldcyclist 375802@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah pokey thing = Bradawl<br /> I have one of these and another with thicker pokey bit): <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carpenters-Bradawl-SupaTool-Pointed-Plastic/dp/B00CWAVA3C" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carpenters-Bradawl-SupaTool-Pointed-Plastic/dp/B00CWAVA3C</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375801 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:37:33 +0000 Baldcyclist 375801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I might try and scrape out the debris first with a pokey thing and perhaps also tapping said pokey thing gently with a hammer if debris stubourn (sorry, I have two of the pokey things but can't for life of me remember what they are called!). That may allow enough purchase to just unsrew. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375800 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:32:29 +0000 chdot 375800@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For metal rather than wood. </p> <p>Not critical, a few mm. </p> <p>Too small and they are likely to break. </p> <p>Idea is that it tends to be easier to start with a small hole then widen in. </p> <p>Party depends if you want to reuse hinges (presumably) and in same place. </p> <p>Presume you got the other two out?</p> <p>Will probably be ok to re-fix with just two screws (rather than drilling other two out completely).</p> <p>If so, you ‘just’ need to take heads off, will need a drill about size of screw shaft, not full head size. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375799 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:22:40 +0000 MrSRD 375799@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What sort of a drill bit?</p> <p>And what size? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375798 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:09:21 +0000 chdot 375798@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>‘Best’ option probably to drill them out. </p> <p>Start with small drill bit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375796 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:52:08 +0000 MrSRD 375796@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The heads are still attached, but damaged/filled in (see link).</p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d6IFO8HOZnwYE5IePGUGWSO7J1XIbu5R/view?usp=share_link" rel="nofollow">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d6IFO8HOZnwYE5IePGUGWSO7J1XIbu5R/view?usp=share_link</a></p> <p>Am trying to get them out so as to remove the hinge plate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375795 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:31:27 +0000 Arellcat 375795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One option might be to chisel a square rebate around the screws - I assume the heads have broken off? - deep enough to get mole grips on the remainder, and then unscrew. You can then neaten the rebate and glue in a piece of wood and fill and sand smooth.</p> <p>I had to do this with some timber when I built my outdoor workbench, though it's not the most aesthetic of pieces I'll grant you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21573#post-375793 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:15:33 +0000 MrSRD 375793@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry for a really random question/request: could anyone recommend someone to contact about drilling out a couple of screws from a timber door?</p> <p>I've reached the limit of my (very limited) skills and equipment.</p> <p>Thanks. </p>