Ordered a leitax adapter and was scared that I would strip a screw (so ordered David's screwdriver). Lo and behold I have no difficulty with all but one (3/4 are okay)...help!
I've been successful at times using either the next size up of high quality cross-head screwdriver, or a straight blade screwdriver that just fits across and into one of the crosses. That, plus a lot of straight-down pressure after some penetrating oil, cleaning the head first to minimize the possibility the blade will slip out.
After that, if failure, the head may have to be drilled to attempt a screw extractor, and I won't go further into possible surgeries at this time. There's not much screw metal to work with there.
You might avoid all of this by taking it to an increasingly rare watch repair shop to see if they would be prepared to do the work.
normally if the thread is striped you can put a bit of 'blu-tac' or 'sticky tape' over/on the tip of the blade...press the blade and screwhead together and just pull the screw out. Or you could try magnetising the screwdriver if it is steel and the screw is steel.
I did that on my OM 50. What I should have done after stripping it is either trying to dremel a new line into the screw for the screwdriver to grab, or maybe glueing a bit to it and then trying to unscrew it.
Just don't do what I did. I tried drilling the head off so I could grab the remaining screw with pliers and unscrew it - that did not work at all. Now I still need to get that lens fixed. Fortunately the 50 is a small lens works OK with one less screw.
Good luck on this.
ps. allebaugh's ideas are good, as well as trying a straight blade driver you can also try a star drive, square drive, etc. and see if any of those will have enough grab to move the screw.
I had success with a similar problem and did a google search that suggested using a rubber band between the screw and the screwdriver
To my surprise - worked like a charm
I would just leave the screws in it and not Leitax it rather than tear it up if it's really truly stuck. (Wish I had done that with my OM 50, dang it).
Hint hint, I am looking for a 35 1.4 if you want to sell it and buy one that you can Leitax without damaging.
If the head (on the mount, I assume) is stipped, use a drill to completely destroy the head. Then, you will be able to remove the mount. Use a plier to remove the remnants of the screw. You will have to use a new screw.
cyberstudio wrote:
If the head (on the mount, I assume) is stipped, use a drill to completely destroy the head. Then, you will be able to remove the mount. Use a plier to remove the remnants of the screw. You will have to use a new screw.
Nope. I tried it. Doesn't work & I highly disrecommend it for this type of job. The remnant on those tiny screws is not grab-able with pliers. Been there, wish I hadn't done that.
(Wish I had done that with my OM 50, dang it).