Rusty screw(head stripped) removal from gas stovetop burner.

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve done this a few months ago on my mom’s Amana gas stove(20 years old). Burners are held in place by two screws per burner–problem being, pots boil over through the years, screws rust. Original screws are rather small Phillips head. Head is so rusted you can’t get a screwdriver to remove. I had to drill one with a screw extractor bit. It was labor intensive.

Today working on ex’s stove–same model. Three rusted screws.

Question is–can I somehow score the rusted head and groove it so I can use a flat blade screw driver? I’ve used WD-40 to help the process, IF I can get the head in shape to use a screwdriver.

Or, should I bite the bullet a d use the screw extractor bit.?

2

If there’s enough head left you can use a dremel tool with an abrasive disk to cut a slot. If you don’t have a dremel a hacksaw can do it. Go slowly with hack saw, use short strokes.

3

Dremel suggestion good. Thx.

4

Another trick on rusty Philips head screws it to try to tighten them a little at first to break them loose. This trick used to work great for getting old sealed-beam headlight rings off.

5

if you use a Dremel then you will need to plan on a good stable angle to cut from.

if you don’t hold the disk steady it will shatter. wear eye protection.

since the disc cuts a curve then you will need to cut a longer slot to get a screwdriver bit deep enough into.

6

I did that on one of the offending screws on my mom’s stove. Worked.

7

Very good head’s up. Thx.

8

WD-40 is not a rust penetrant. Get some PB blaster or Maltby’s.
I am told a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF is a great rust buster, but I have never used it.

9

You could try a penetrating solution like Liquid Wrench or similar product sold at any hardware or auto parts store. Let it work for a bit then try the screw. One way I’ve gotten head-stripped screws out, if there is enough head left, is grab it with a pair of vise grips and twist it out like a bolt.

10

When a screwdriver alone won’t work, I have used the following many times. You must have a small steel punch, and a grinding wheel/bench grinder with which to sharpen the punch.
Place the sharpened punch on the screw head, between the center of the screw, and the edge of the screw head. pop it once good with a steel hammer, leaving a spot/divot. Using this divot, and holding the punch on an angle, tap the punch with the steel hammer, turning the screw in a counterclockwise direction . (Hold the punch in the divot, the only movement is the hammer…and hopefully, the screw.)

11

Have you tried vice grips?

Worked like a charm for me in a similar situation.

12

Screw head is down flush in very tight space. Cant get anything in there except a screwdriver or drill bit.

13

Well yes drilling the head away is another way. Stop when its really thin and you can then break the head away. When the stove (or burner or whatever) comes apart, you can then use vice grip pliers to turn it it ? Or cut the slot in the piece that remains, or at least cut a side off.