Hi all
I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after
straightenin the boards.
Here's a picture one of the gaps!
http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
unscrew them.
The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type
of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of
metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
Cheers
Martin
If they go into softwood, you may be able to drive them through. Then you
can plug the holes in the shop and start again. What's the width of the
gap? Was this wood dry? Could the framing be the problem? I'd also look
for a hollow bit, like a miniature holesaw, and drill around the screw.
I've seem them, but don't know the name. I doubt you'll be able to drill the
metal, but who knows. Maybe the miracle buts the sell at ww shows?
Wilson
"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards
> screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull up
> the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece from
> the underside at your workbench?
>
> Just a thought.
>
> J.
>
>
> Martin Noakes wrote:
>> Hi all
>>
>> I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
>> after
>> straightenin the boards.
>>
>> Here's a picture one of the gaps!
>> http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>>
>> Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
>> unscrew them.
>>
>> The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which
>> type
>> of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of
>> metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
>>
>> Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Martin
>>
I take it this is not normal oak plank flooring you can get at the
flooring stores (pic did not look like normal T&G boards, anyway).
Floorboards are normally nailed for this very reason, among others, but
there may have been a good reason to use screws here.
Regardless, I would first try to screw them all the way through. If
that didn't work, a Sawzall with a long bi-metal blade would most
likely eat it and ask for more. Small hole saw is the last option,
because fitting many special-made plugs won't be fun.
Good luck and tell us how you do,
H
Some have split!
Cheers for the advise
Martin
"Saudade" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Martin Noakes wrote:
> > Hi all
> >
> > I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
> > after straightenin the boards.
> >
> > Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> > http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
> >
> > Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> > unscrew them.
> >
> > The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which
> > type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a
> > couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
> >
> > Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Martin
>
> You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big
> enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the
> board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead.
>
>
It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards
screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull
up the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece
from the underside at your workbench?
Just a thought.
J.
Martin Noakes wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after
> straightenin the boards.
>
> Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>
> Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> unscrew them.
>
> The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type
> of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of
> metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
>
> Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
>
> Cheers
>
> Martin
>
>
No better than HSS. They are not titanium (which would make a lousy drill
bit). They are HSS bits with a thin (.0001") titanium nitride coating.
"Martin Noakes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've looked through the screwfix brochure and they sell titanium tipped
dril
> bits would these be hard enough?
>
More thoughts.
A cobalt bit or try a reciprocating saw with a long, fine
tooth, bimetallic blade. If the bimetallic blade won't cut
the screws, get a diamond blade. Just lift the board enough
to get the blade under it and cut off the screws.
Frank
"Martin Noakes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all
>
> I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to
> re-lay it after
> straightenin the boards.
>
> Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>
> Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and
> I'm unable to
> unscrew them.
>
> The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone
> knew which type
> of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a
> couple of
> metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
>
> Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
>
> Cheers
>
> Martin
>
>
Martin Noakes wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
> after straightenin the boards.
>
> Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>
> Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> unscrew them.
>
> The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which
> type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a
> couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
>
> Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
>
> Cheers
>
> Martin
You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big
enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the
board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead.
If regular HSS won't do it, cobalt won't either.
"Frank K." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> More thoughts.
>
> A cobalt bit or try a reciprocating saw with a long, fine
> tooth, bimetallic blade. If the bimetallic blade won't cut
> the screws, get a diamond blade. Just lift the board enough
> to get the blade under it and cut off the screws.
Not at the moment as I haven't been able to unscrew any of them.
Cheers
Martin
"John Grossbohlin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Martin Noakes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi all
> >
> > I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
after
> > straightenin the boards.
> >
> > Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> > http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
> >
> > Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> > unscrew them.
>
> Can you post a picture of the screws in the flooring and if possible a
> picture of just a screw?
>
> John
>
>
I've looked through the screwfix brochure and they sell titanium tipped dril
bits would these be hard enough?
"Saudade" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Martin Noakes wrote:
> > Hi all
> >
> > I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
> > after straightenin the boards.
> >
> > Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> > http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
> >
> > Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> > unscrew them.
> >
> > The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which
> > type of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a
> > couple of metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
> >
> > Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Martin
>
> You need carbide drill bits (carbide tipped). You could try a bit big
> enough to pop the head off but some threaded length may still grip the
> board. I'm surprise the boards didn't split and bent the screws instead.
>
>
They're screwed in to a softwood frame which is infilled with insulation
(jablite).
Cheers
Martin
"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It's not entirely clear from the photo but what are the floorboards
> screwed into? Might it be possible to cut through that substrate, pull
> up the floorboards, and then remove the still screwed on substrate piece
> from the underside at your workbench?
>
> Just a thought.
>
> J.
>
>
> Martin Noakes wrote:
> > Hi all
> >
> > I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it
after
> > straightenin the boards.
> >
> > Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> > http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
> >
> > Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> > unscrew them.
> >
> > The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which
type
> > of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of
> > metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
> >
> > Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Martin
> >
> >
"Martin Noakes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all
>
> I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after
> straightenin the boards.
>
> Here's a picture one of the gaps!
> http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>
> Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
> unscrew them.
Can you post a picture of the screws in the flooring and if possible a
picture of just a screw?
John
On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:37:25 -0000, "Martin Noakes"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi all
>
>I'm about to lift an Oak floor that has shrunk in order to re-lay it after
>straightenin the boards.
>
>Here's a picture one of the gaps!
>http://www.songcity.co.uk/MyPictures/Floorboards1.jpg
>
>Due to the shrinkage the screws have been bent over and I'm unable to
>unscrew them.
>
>The screws are hardened steel BZP and I wondered if anyone knew which type
>of drill bit I would need to drill the heads off. I have a couple of
>metalwork drills and they don't touch the screw heads.
>
>Or maybe another suggestions/approach for unscrewing them.
>
>Cheers
>
>Martin
>
Perhaps this would work? Take a piece of 1/4 inch hollow steel
tubing. With a triangular file, file some teeth in one of the ends
(you are essentially making a 1/4 diameter hole saw without the center
bit). Chuck it in your drill and use it to bore down around the
outside of the screw, separating the screw from the plank. (You can
use a scrap with a 1/4 hole in it as a guide to get the bit started in
the right place, since it will tend to wander with no center bit.)
Once you have done this to all the screws, lift the plank off, and
remove the screws with pliers. The 1/4 holes in the planks can be
filled with wood plugs.
I've seen commercial versions of this tool for sale, but don't
remember where at the moment. It'll be slow going, but beats
destroying the floor to remove it.
HTH,
Paul
"Tom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> www.baddogtools.com They drill thru brake rotors, files etc. Not
> cheap, but I got a set at ww show and ended up needing it that very day
> to remove a frozen shock mount bolt on wifes car. You will need a
> small hole to get larger bit started.
What's carbaloid?
>