How to Open Security Screws
Intro: How to Open Security Screws
This instructable shows you how to open security screws. Security screws are those stupid screws you see on products that the manufacture does not intend for you to open. Ive seen these on hard drives and on a microwave.
There are two ways to open these without the special screwdriver, you can use a hammer and just bust the thing open (using brute force) or take a dremel and cut a slot or Phillips head into the screw.
Since we have evolved from the cavemen i will show you how a gentleman opens these.
You will need a dremel rotary tool and fiberglass reenforced cut off wheel.
appropriate PPE (glasses, ear protection, reflective belt)
Here is some cool information for screws
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw
There are two ways to open these without the special screwdriver, you can use a hammer and just bust the thing open (using brute force) or take a dremel and cut a slot or Phillips head into the screw.
Since we have evolved from the cavemen i will show you how a gentleman opens these.
You will need a dremel rotary tool and fiberglass reenforced cut off wheel.
appropriate PPE (glasses, ear protection, reflective belt)
Here is some cool information for screws
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw
STEP 1: Add a Slot Into the Top
This is too easy,
Take your dremel tool and carefully cut a slot in to the top of the screw. You want to modify the screw head to accept the new tool as perfect as possible. If you make the slot too wide then you risk shearing off the head and ruining the screw. If you make it too narrow then you risk injuring yourself when the tool slips.
With practice its possible to cut a Phillips head into the head of the screw.
Take your dremel tool and carefully cut a slot in to the top of the screw. You want to modify the screw head to accept the new tool as perfect as possible. If you make the slot too wide then you risk shearing off the head and ruining the screw. If you make it too narrow then you risk injuring yourself when the tool slips.
With practice its possible to cut a Phillips head into the head of the screw.
STEP 2: Remove Screw
Now you can remove the screw with ease.
If your doing a simple repair, such as replacing a fuse then just go to the hardware store and get some regular screws that match the thread and size. If your busting into something then just toss the screws.
Hopefully this saves you a trip to the hardware store or having to special ordering security bits to open broken products.
If your doing a simple repair, such as replacing a fuse then just go to the hardware store and get some regular screws that match the thread and size. If your busting into something then just toss the screws.
Hopefully this saves you a trip to the hardware store or having to special ordering security bits to open broken products.
135 Comments
klpbingel87 1 year ago
coolbeansbaby68 10 years ago
I never thought of doing it this way . The way i did got around this was i used a dremel with a small grinding stone bit and just ground the little nipple in the center flush to the bottom and then i could use a regular bit ..
MikeLee 12 years ago
I work on electronic equipment for a living and often come across these #$@% fasteners out in the field when I don't have any of those cute little special bits with me. For years I have just knocked the center post off with a small screwdriver and then used a standard torx bit to take the screw out. But using a dremel to cut a slot in the head is still a valid alternative and it's much more inventive than "go buy some bits". So I still give this one a thumbs up!
olmon 12 years ago
isaac! 12 years ago
olmon 12 years ago
MikeLee 12 years ago
If you have a response that is relevant to this instructable then please post it. If you really want to know what tools I have, ask me offline, not here. If you just want to throw personal jabs then I will simply ignore you.
thematthatter 12 years ago
But sometimes your in the field and forget a driver, if you got the correct fastener to fix it and explain to the customer, most people are just as happy because you got their emergency fixed.
This was intended for everyone else, the tinkers, or the people who may know a little about appliances to open products at home with out going to the hardware store or going online to buy bits. Maybe they don't have the space/money or real need to buy a tool just for one or two uses when modifying the screw can work in a pinch and is really quick.
I'm not a repairman, but I work on salary, but per hr of actual work is about $10 an hr, I would have to struggle opening this for an hr to justify spending 6-10 for something i would only use once. Including taking pictures, i had this microwave cabinet open in about 10 minutes.
Mentioning sticks and stones, the first time i opened a computer hard drive i used a 22 LR and shot the thing open. I just did it to see whats inside not realizing the cool magnets in it. But pretty much everything was ruined. if i really wanted to bust into this i would have stuck a bottle of beer in it and turned it on, in 30 secs it would blow apart. if the magnetron wasn't powerful then throwing it off my roof would have opened it too.
This method was a more civilized way of opening something without the correct driver.
Madrigorne 12 years ago
olmon 12 years ago
Broom 12 years ago
warlock40 12 years ago
ac-dc 12 years ago
We understand what the site is about but understand this: Just because you can do something a different way, doesn't necessarily make it sane to do it another way when there are easily obtainable, inexpensive solutions that last a lifetime. Will we all just divert to using sticks and rocks for everything because we want to shy away from tools in general? Doesn't make any sense at all does it, by taking your argument we don't get to have a dremel tool or screwdrivers or anything else, we have to hack some cruder way to do those jobs too.
No, just as you can have a standard torx bit, there is no justification to own standard torx bits if the security bits will do both secure and standard torx.
Treknology 12 years ago
A cross-section combined with other drives conventionally disassembled worked as a wonderful educational tool.
MikeLee 12 years ago
"It's more simple to buy screwdriver/bit for these screws, than use a dremel." or "Just go buy the tool." They are not really very constructive when the author is merely trying to show a way to remove such a screw when the tool (for whatever reason) is not available. If you have the tool then use it. If you need the tool, then go get it. If this is the only security Torx screw you will ever remove, then it should be OK to use a dremel, or to knock the post out of the screw, or whatever other way you can think of to get it out. Maybe you should read my post again.
NathanaelScheffler 12 years ago
Mtalus 12 years ago
I've tried it. It won't take much torque without shearing or torqueing out, but a new tool is right there handy.
A glass of Ice water (or cold beverage of choice) is useful to speed tool hardening.
isaac! 12 years ago
Broom 12 years ago
snworks 12 years ago