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Topic: What kind of security screw is this?

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 09-10-2002 03:41 PM

What kind of security screw is this? (The picture isn't too clear, but that is actually screwed into the rack.) How can it be removed and where can I get the tool? I can understand why some companies want to keep equipment from walking away, but sooner or later a piece of equipment will fail and needs to be pulled out of the rack for servicing.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 09-10-2002 03:45 PM

I don't know if there's a special tool for it, but I've removed screws like that by clamping down hard on the screw head with a pair of vicegrip pliars and turning them like a screwdriver. You might also be able to [carefully] cut a slot in the head with a Dremel tool so you could use a regular screwdriver...

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-10-2002 03:51 PM

I agree with David.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 09-10-2002 04:35 PM

"Hmm...a bald-headed screw. I wish I had a bald-headed screwdriver."
--Moe from "The Three Stooges"

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-10-2002 06:31 PM

Is that a DTS unit? They must have drilled a new hole(s) just for that screw(s). Seems a tad extreme.

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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-10-2002 06:35 PM

Are you sure it's a screw? Looks like a blind rivet to me.
If it is, I'd drill it out.

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Bruce Hansen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 847
From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-10-2002 06:53 PM

I have removed things like that, and also screws that have been worn so that a screw driver will no longer turn them, by biteing down on them with a pair of wire cutters. Bite down on the outside rim with the cutters, and then turn.

Most hardware stores sell a kit of security bits, if you want to take all the fun out of it.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 09-10-2002 07:01 PM

I don't know Gerard, it might be a rivet. All I know is one of the items in one of the racks at this theater has failed and must be pulled out for servicing. (No, it wasn't the dts unit, that was just nearby a good light source.)

Oh, did I mention my sheer love for this kind of crap? Pain in the butt!

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-10-2002 07:18 PM

I third David's suggestion.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-10-2002 08:01 PM

Use a dremel tool to cut a slot in the top of it

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-10-2002 08:19 PM

One hefty swing with a hammer should remove it..

Maybe I should not say that.

Is it actually a thumb screw that has been over-tightened? It could be a spiffy pop-rivet to make it look nice. If you twist it and it does not unscrew, it probably is a pop-rivet. I have broken those off with a good vise-grip and punched them through with a drift punch. I don't like drilling them because of the possibility of the little curly-cues accidently dropping into electronic devices.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 09-10-2002 08:53 PM

I've seen screws like that before that have a shaft about 1" long. The end of the shaft (opposite the one in the picture) is squared off like a hex nut that you can loosen (or tighten) with a normal wrench or socket. Depending how tight the space is inside the rack you might need a couple of extension pieces on a socket to get at it.

Just remember to turn clockwise to loosen.

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 09-11-2002 05:22 PM

I also vote to use a Dremel tool and cut a slot in the head.

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Richard Tucker
Film Handler

Posts: 15
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-11-2002 10:07 PM

Brad:

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Richard Tucker
Film Handler

Posts: 15
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-11-2002 10:11 PM

Brad:
I think this is the same screw I used to install on racks we put behind the screen for Act III. The head is slightly oval, and requires a special tool to fit the head. The box I have says "Premier Security Screw #10 size, 10/32". If you can't find the tool, let me know, as I have several extras and would be glad to send you one.

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