Stripped a T30 bed screw, any advice on which screw extractor & bit size to use?

As title says, idiot me lol.

Anyone have any idea what’s the best ideal drill bit size to use on a t30 bolt alongside a screw extractor kit?

 

Just cut a slit and use a flat blade.

 

I don’t have a dremel

 

Use and angle grinder with a cutting disc and if you don’t have one then go to harbor freight. I don’t like harbor freight but they are cheap

 

I stripped the same screw, I know your pain.

 

These dam soft bolts lol.

getting an angle grinder now

 

thanks!

 

Good luck, just cut a slit across it and use a big flat head

 

An angle grinder is going to be hard to get in the rail. Not impossible, just hard.

I'd probably start by trying to hammer in a T35 and see if I could get it to "sink" a bit.

If you go with the angle grinder you'll probably want to get a cutting wheel to "slot" the screw, then use a screwdriver or cold chisel to try to turn the screw.
The alternative will be to grind the entire head off, then try to use some pliers or vice grips to get the remainder of the screw out of the threads.

 

Can’t imagine any vice grips that can fit inbetween the bed rail, the angle grinder + flat should do the job.. hopefully?

 

it has its place. My thinking is if it’s a tool I’ll use once in a blue moon then hf. If it’s a tool I need daily or regularly then get brand name.

hf quality is cheap though and you have to kniw this going in. I bought a 29 gal compressor 3-4 yrs ago that I rarely use, since the new truck, (had 3.2 hrs on it when failed). Being diy/fix it I figured out it was the springs that broke so I bought universal springs and made to length (took 2 try’s to get length right because they were heavier duty/thicker), it took awhile to figure out how everything was supposed to go too since there was no tutorial/how to. I actually watched a video on how someone replaced the copper coil and ss how the pressure plates were supposed to look like with the springs. It cost me 20$ to repair only because I bought a start capacitor thinking it was that first. I’ve also modded a hf da to perform better.

 

An angle grinder, with a grinding wheel isn't really good at cutting slots.
An angle grinder, with a grinding wheel is good at grinding things off. Like the entire head of the screw.

A cutting wheel, on the angle grinder, would be capable of cutting a slot that you might be able to put a big flat head screwdriver, or a cold chisel into.

A grinding wheel is going to cut a very "round" slot, that's going to be hard to get a a flat tip to "purchase" in.
Your best be with a grinding wheel is going to be to grind the entirety of the head off, then you can remove the rail, but the remainder of the screw will still be in the threads, and will have to be removed with something like vice grips.

 

Could go with a mini hand hack saw to put a slit but will take time but if you have a steady hand the angle Grinder will fit (obviously only 1 way) to put a slit for a flat blade. Try to spray the back side with pb blaster if you can get to it

edit: assumed the cutting wheel over grinding wheel was common knowledge

 

JB weld in a bit you can fit.

 

you can use a recip saw blade for metal to cut a slot. <$5 at hd

 

Since OP doesn't have a dremel or an angle grinder I wanted to make sure if he's making a trip to HF that he comes home with a cutting wheel.
I don't know what sort of consumables comes home in an HF angle grinder at this point, but if it only comes with a grinding wheel, he'd have to make another trip, or abandoned the "slot" idea (either would work).

Hack saw, also not a bad ide for slotting things.

Also, if you haven't used an angle grinder before, use the safeties. Wear the safety mcglasses. Shit can get out of hand quickly at 10k rpm.

 

I’ll just end up picking up a dremel since it’s small & compact to fit in between the bed rail

 

yea I use a grinder regularly strictly with a cutting wheel (which I wouldn’t necessarily cheap out on, hf wheels seems to break easier than others or it’s in my head). And it can definitely get away from you if your not steady. Same applies with the dremel op so if you’ve never used a tool before always test it on something else to get a feel for it. Last think you probably want is a oh shit moment. I use shades but some sort of eye protection- last thing you want is a trip to the er or worst case losing an eye. And not for something extraordinary at that

 

Don’t waste your time. You stripped it because it’s stuck, flat blade won’t work, you’ll just round it off again and then have zero “meat” left to do anything with and you’ll end up having to drill or grind the head completely off.
Best option is a decent EZ out set, (many are cheap shit though). I’ve had good luck with “grabit speed out pro” on that kinda bolt. As long as you have a drill ( and read / follow the instructions) the below will work.

$33 Alden 8440P Pro Grabit Broken Bolt and Damaged Screw Extractor 4 Piece Kit - Made in The USA

https://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-Grabit-Damaged-Extractor/dp/B001A4CWHO

 

Try a square bit. I’ve had good luck with them in stripped torx fasteners. If it’s brand new the edges will still be sharp and you can hammer it in to the head of the bolt. That should give you just enough grip to slowly back out the screw.