Removing Security Torx (Star) Screw with a Flathead Screwdriver

Security Torx screws, the six-pointed star-shaped screw heads with the pin in the middle, are used in many digital objects to prevent tampering. Removing a security torx screw can be a hassle for those without the tool. Once, however, I broke (NOT broke into, broke) a safe in a hotel room and, not wanting them to charge me excessive amounts of money for a simple repair, decided to take it apart myself. I discovered that only a small flathead is required. Oddly, this method only works on security torx, not on non-security ones.

Step 1: Aquire your items

To remove a security torx screw, you will need:
1) A small flathead, depending upon the size of the torx head. It will probably be a flathead.
2) The device you are attempting to access.

Comments

[bertus52x11]

 Clockwise to unscrew?

[Blofish]

Its righty tighty, lefty lousy

[alterator]

not always though

[Blofish]

That is true. Most left-hand screws are used when there is a torque (twist effort) in a counter clockwise rotation... that will cause a bolt to come loose...

[Paki7491]

Righty tighty Lefty loosey is true 9/10 times, but some special screws, like security screws, are backwards.

[aeray]

The prison method is to heat up the back end of a plastic toothbrush until it is soft, push it into the screw and wait for it to solidify. Voila! Custom screwdriver.

[TheParadox]

Tried that already. Unfortunately it was not strong enough to remove screws from a HDD Platter.

[hg341]

i wish i had tryed this when i was takeing that microwave apart

[DIY Dave]

me too

[hg341]

i tried to drill out the center

[DIY Dave]

I just bought some security torx bits from sears

[hg341]

i should do that i need to take apart more mircowaves to make a tig wleder

[silencekilla]

i for one already know how to do this but i think you can provide quite a few more pics to help other people understand

[rickharris]

With the best will in the world - Turn the screw driver anti-clockwise to undo!

[Kiteman]

LOL - a little editing required there...

[berky93]

That's a useful trick. I'll have to remember that for my next gadget teardown.

I bet it could work for non-security screws by finding a flathead screwdriver that fits between two notches (the points of the star) opposite from each other, or relatively opposite. Just somewhere to wedge it in there.