Set screw on pen mill stripped out

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Parson

Parson

Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2009
Messages
798
Location
Houston, Texas
I can no longer take a hex wrench and loosen the set screw on my pen mill trimming kit. I'm sure a bunch of you have had the same thing happen to you.

I've sharpened the tool a couple of times and don't want to replace this expensive kit for just this little set screw.

1. How do I get the stripped one out?

2. How do I find a suitable replacement?

Thanks!
 
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I went to HF and got a set of left hand drill bits. That will take the pld one out. Lowes has set screws that will repace it. I just took the mill in with me and found what fit. I think the threads are 1/4x28, but I won't swear to it.
 
Randall, Your problem is to figure out how to get that set screw out?
Here is what you can do to get it out without muscling with it. Take a smaller than the stripped recess nail and try to square the head at the sander then you put a little dab of CA glue at the end of the tip of the nail and immediately insert it in the stripped hole, you have to hold it for 30 sec or longer to let the CA grab the set screw then you use a locking long nose pliers and grab the nail and gently try to unscrew it form the mill. Take your set screw to the hardware store hopefully that it's not metric and find you a replacement. I hope this will do you good. Next time when you replace the set screw do not tighten it so hard that you strip the internal edges.
Good luck.
 
My problem with extractors, is when you get that small they don't seem to bite very well. But then again, I've normaly used my Superman underware to tighten the screw, and got a cheap tool to fix it. The better ones may do just fine.
 
Randall, C & D hardware has a bunch of set screws. As for getting it out, I can come over and take a look at it.

I just re read your post. It's the pen mill not the tail stock. Come by and pick up mine.
 
I have a small flat blade screwdriver that I jam into the set screw at a diagonal and then just turn it out and replace it. I have a whole little box of different size set screw for al of my lathe tools.
 
If the threads are stripped, I'd just get do like the others..mickey mouse it out of the hole, then toss the whole cutter head, but salvage the rods. If it's just the head, those screws are easy to find. I would also check your wrench. The wrench is likely losing it's corners. You can grind off an 1/8 or 1/4 from the end of the wrench to get back to using square corners.
 
Thought I'd return to this thread and share my very cool experience at Home Depot getting this tool fixed. Brought it with me and a lady working the isle I was on said, "you need a screw extractor and a replacement set screw. Let's get that stripped one out of there so we can determine what size it is and get you on your way."

So down the isle we went, she found the right sized extractor, opened the package, took it out and found a pair of vice grips, and backed out the stripped set screw like she did it all day long.

Then she searched the bins on another isle for almost five minutes and found the metric bits I needed and said, "you better buy a few extras with the amount of work you give this little cutter."

I sure hope her husband appreciates her! I did hunt down the store manager and tell her how proud she should be of this employee.

So I now have a barrel trimmer that works again, plus extra set screws and a new tool... a screw extractor.
 
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