I made a terrible mistake that messed up all my inserts and stripped all my screws… As I wanted to waterproof the inside of my inserts, I injected epoxy in the holes then screwed in the screws so the epoxy stays off the threads. However, I let it cure for too long and my screws have now a thick layer of epoxy preventing them from coming out (inserts doesn’t fully cover the screws). Is there any hope for those inserts? I already stripped all of them trying to get them out. I also broke one in the process…
Now I have to fix it. I already found a solution to this issue which is remove the inserts, pour some epoxy in the holes created and, drill, tap and install EZ lok inserts. But to get there, I need to remove all of the inserts that are embedded underneath like 3/8in of carbon fiber and metal. I tried cutting it with a dremel cutting wheel and it cuts but the placement is awkward and the result is messy. Now I’m thinking hole saw? Please pitch in to get me out of my misery!
Never tried something like this before and my suggestion may not work but it is worth a shot.
Epoxy seems to have a melting temp of roughly 350°F (quick google search)
So if you hold a solder gun to the screws you may be able to heat them up hot enough to weaken the bond of the epoxy. A torch would be faster and ideal but this may cause more grief than good.
Mind as well attempt it and possible maintain the integrity of your build
EDIT: Shit I just went through your post again and noticed that you mentioned the fact that you stripped all of them!
That’s a decent idea still… I could use the screw out thing I bought for another stripped screw and try it after heating up the screw! I’m still not too hopeful about these inserts… I really messed that one up 2 days before planned ride day…
I feel you haha! My board build was going well so far… Probably too well lol! I can’t wait to show all of you the finished product… It’s definitely aesthetically unique!
A suggestion if u want some more nightmares would be to drill (destroy) through screws with “thin driller needle” (idk the word on english) then with “thread making tool needle” and thin screwdriver clean out the destroyed screw from the insert. Need to be gentle to not destroy the insert thread. Def last solution. Heat with solder gun ofc to make it a bit softer.
Thats an idea… But this sounds like a lot of fine work that may not work in the end! Drilling through a 1 1/2 in screw is not an easy task lol! I don’t have a drill press or high end cutting drill bits that would make this possible… I appreciate the suggestion though
Super update! I was able to remove 6 of the ten screws that were not totally stripped with heat. Now I have 4 screws left: 2 of them have no head and the other 2 were undergoing the screw out process yesterday (which I stopped half way because I was discouraged lol). What would be the best way to extract those without a head? I was thinking of cutting a slot down the middle to be able to insert a flat head bit.
So the issue is that you dont have anything to grip on the screw when trying to make it rotate? Cause than @Anatoly has a simple fix for that!
Also I’m pumped it worked for so many of them! Yeah the heated process is probably a complete pain in the ass but is there still hope for it to work for the last 4 screws?
Your suggestion with work on the tall one but the second one with no head broke very close to the inserts so I won’t be able to fit nuts on it… Vise grip or Dremel cut flat head insert for this one?
