Tempermental screws

Ok, wanting to unscrew the bases on my dining chairs so I can recover them, thing is it's oldish and I think the screws are kinda like semi rusted stuck. How can I best get these unscrewed??

h mmm not sure, have you phoned someone like mitre 10?

Nar haven't, didn't think of that.

CRC would work, but if you dont have any, try tipping dish liquid over screws, leave a minute or 2 and then try.

boy every time I read this head line I think of something else LOL - must be my warped mind!!!

Will try the dish washing liquid.

LOL mylife, yes well something else has crossed my mind too when I read it. Prehaps I should change it?

hmmm no, it made me laugh!

ok dish washing liquid doesn't work. Still haven't gotten round to ringing Mitre 10, don't have much of a voice at present either.

What about likes of an electric drill?? Or do they drill holes only?? Can you get electric screwdrivers?? Maybe one of them would work if I can find someone to borrow one off.

Yep electric screwdriver might work. Trying to think of other things I have tried. Rub soap over and around screws.

gosh an electric screw!!

Well mylife lubricant doesn't work for this screw

Ok if I start asking people if anyone has an electric screwdriver is there such a thing or will they look at me stranger (than they already do) or is it an electric drill with a screwdriver attachment?? Shows how much I know about electric tools aye

my eight year old (get that) tells me it is called an electric drill with a screwdriver attachment

cool, thanks, don't want to look like too much of an idiot

Remember to that he is eight - he already has his own cordless drill and more tools than the average bloke...right into it he is

Well he's smarter than me then, can I borrow him to use the drill?? I probably won't be able too lol

Yeah sure come on up and grab it lolol

You can get cordless electric screwdrivers and drills (which will come with screwdriver-bits) from Mitre 10 from $20 http://www.mitre10.co.nz/index.cfm?mid=345&dept=6&subdept=45&start=1&pg=1&op=view&orderby=2
and from DickSmith from $13
http://search.dse.co.nz/search?w=Screwdriver&sessionid=4a545be4022528282742c0a87f3b065c&submit.x=14&submit.y=13

If you are still having difficulty in shifting the screws, sit the screwdriver firmly in the screw slots and tap it quite hard with a hammer. The idea is just to jolt them a fraction and make them let go in surprise. Don't let them hear you coming, or they will just hold on tighter. Then, you should be able to turn them.

Also, cooking oil may soak into the timber quicker and deeper around the screws than dishwashing liquid and yep, once you have the little buggers out, drag the threads of the screws across a cake of soap - they will never stick again.

Soap makes a good runner lubricant for cupboard 'n desk drawers n stuff too. Cooking oil on a cloth wiped over door hinges stops the bugger squeaking, I know that, cos I did it here yesterday.

Happy de-screwing (and re-screwing)

hey Paddy, have you got an unsung talent with woodwork?

You would get along well with my Pete!

Thanks paddy, will call into DSE when I'm in Hamz tomorrow and try pick one up. For that price don't mind buying one!! Tried the cooking oil and didn't work. Maybe its coz I don't have enough strength in my arms??

Once they all out and the chairs are recovered I'm buying new screws for them and drilling new holes so that they will *fingers crossed* not get stuck again.

Ok, so I brought myself an electric screwdriver from DSE for $10. Charge it up, and stupid thing don't want to undo the screws either!!!! or maybe I'm using it wrongly and now I've got the stupid cross screw driver head thingie stuck in the screwdriver!! I'm useless, and I found (and brought) the material that I'm gonna cover the seats in. *sigh*

don't ya hate that?

have you tried Paddy's theory?

What theory's that?? Throwing them on the concrete?? Not yet, been working. Will do it when have some free day time

shall i get a camera, could be quite comical!!

Gawd hate the tempremental screws!!!!