Help me remove my window sash lock screws please

February 17, 2006 2:20 PM

How do I remove my window sash lock?

My sash lock is broken on my double-hung window. It has two screws (per piece) that fasten it to the window sash.

All the new sash locks seem to use phillips head screws, but the kind of screws I have are funky and cannot be used with a regular screwdriver...the screw heads are designed to only tighten and not unscrew unless you have a special tool. It looks like a funky looking phillips insert-hole in the screw head...almost like the indentation is inversed. No, it's not a torx or hex or something that I've ever seen before.

posted by thewiseacre to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

If you have one-way screws (not perfectly clear from your question), there is such a thing as a one-way screw removal tool, but it is not cheap. Look up item 7392A71 at McMaster Carr. Actually, the page that lists that tool also lists several other exotic drivers, another of which might do for you.

If none of those work, the alternative would be to drill a tiny hole down the middle of this and use a screw extractor (basically, a reverse-threaded screw).
posted by adamrice at 2:35 PM on February 17, 2006

There are screws designed to screw in only. For when you don't ever want to unscrew it. If you insert a Phillips screwdriver and turn counter-clockwise, the edges of the tip of the screwdriver just hit a slope, rather than a flat spot on the screw, right?

Removing these without doing too much damage to the window sash will take a little work. Probably you want to use a small drill bit to drill down into the screw, and either destroy the screw that way or jam something into the drilled out hole and twist the screw out (reverse the direction on your drill).
posted by jellicle at 2:36 PM on February 17, 2006

you can buy those screw extractors in a kit at the hardware store - they are very convenient to have around- just make sure one of the sizes will work with your screws - you also need a drill bit that is carbide tipped or that you don't mind ruining.
posted by dorcas at 2:40 PM on February 17, 2006

First, is it broken in the "open" position? My The lazy man's way to deal with this would be to leave the existing lock on and put a new one on someplace else.

Or, if you aren't as big a slob as me you want to do it the right way, the postings above pretty much have it. If you can't get the screw out by twisting you can also try just drilling the whole thing out or slipping a hacksaw blade between the lock and the sash and cut through the screws that way. If you aren't too picky you can cut the screws flush and relocate the new sash lock, otherwise you'll probably need to drill them out and fill the holes. Good luck!
posted by Opposite George at 2:51 PM on February 17, 2006

P.S.: Screw extractors do work, but the smaller ones are easy to snap off so if the screws are in metal and seem stuck, go slow and use penetrating oil (a.k.a. Liquid Wrench)
posted by Opposite George at 2:53 PM on February 17, 2006

Oh, duh. One more easy way if you can get access to the top of the screw: Cut or grind a slot in the head with a hacksaw blade or Dremel and use a flat blade screwdriver to remove the screw.
posted by Opposite George at 2:55 PM on February 17, 2006

Yeah, a dremel with a cut-off wheel works great. Just make your own slot in the head of the screw and back it out.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:23 PM on February 17, 2006

Response by poster: you have all solved my problem, albeit with the solutions I was assuming. I was hoping that it was possible to buy a tool (easily/quickly) to do this.

The lock is actually broken, and I'm selling the house. Our buyer is demanding that I fix this...don't even get me started on the rest of the inspection list.

I don't have a one of those screw extractors but have always wanted one, although I do have a dremel and will go that route.

THANKS!
posted by thewiseacre at 3:53 PM on February 17, 2006

Our buyer is demanding that I fix this...don't even get me started on the rest of the inspection list.

I feel your pain. The capacity of people to hold up 5/6/7-figure deals over nickel-and-dime stuff never ceases to amaze me.
posted by Opposite George at 4:34 PM on February 17, 2006