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  #1  
Old 01-26-2013, 12:09 PM
John R. Graham John R. Graham is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 88
Default Annoying Minor RV Shop Building Mishap

Over the Christmas holidays I completed a new improved "wet work" corner in my shop: stainless steel industrial sink with large side drain area, commercial restaurant-style pre-rinse faucet, FRP panels on the walls. Last weekend I was just doing a little finishing touches work, attaching a paper towel roll holder, and while drilling the holes, I hit a drywall screw, and made a discovery: man, are those made out of hard metal. In trying to drill it out, I've dulled three high speed steel bits (a tungsten coated one, a cobolt steel one recommended by Home Depot, and a brand new bit that came from Avery) and, mostly out of desperation, ruined a brand new carbide-tipped masonry bit.

Now, I am somewhat of a perfectionist, I admit, but I'm not that bad: I'm going to move the roll holder an inch to the right (a position that will still leave the unused holes covered) and drill new holes. But, I'm curious. What would I use to drill out that egregiously hard screw?

- John

Last edited by John R. Graham : 01-26-2013 at 12:15 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-26-2013, 01:04 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 6,797
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Assuming it's SS, the key is to use a slow turning drill with lots of lubrication (Boelube, etc). And a good bit (cobalt). Even then you will wear out the bit but you should make headway. I think I went thru 2 or 3 bits to drill 6 EFG probe holes in the SS exhaust.
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  #3  
Old 01-26-2013, 04:54 PM
John R. Graham John R. Graham is offline
 
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Location: Alpharetta, GA
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Wow. Okay, I'll give that a try. Thanks.

- John
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  #4  
Old 01-26-2013, 05:03 PM
rockwoodrv9 rockwoodrv9 is offline
 
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Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
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Can't you just take the drywall screw out or put the new screw at a little angle?
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  #5  
Old 01-26-2013, 05:06 PM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
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Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
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If it's a drywall screw in drywall, don't bother with the drill. Hack out enough drywall and get a crescent wrench on it.

Spackle wil make it perfect.....

You can do a lot of stuff to drywall that you can't do to aircraft.....
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  #6  
Old 01-27-2013, 08:36 AM
John R. Graham John R. Graham is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
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The issue is that the drywall screw is behind this nice new piece of fiberglass paneling that I glued over the drywall. Taking it out is thus not an option. I was trying to avoid extra holes in the FRP.

- John
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  #7  
Old 01-27-2013, 09:01 AM
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bird bird is offline
 
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Location: lake charles, La.
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Drywall screws are hardened carbon steel, some have coating on them that look grey or silver. They are hardened to the point that they will break before bending any. Drilling into it would be like trying to drill a metal file, hardly practical.

Bird
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