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Re: [Shop-talk] Removing security screws

To: "shop-talk@autox.team.net" <Shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Removing security screws
From: Scott Hall <scott.hall.personal@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:17:31 -0500
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: Shop-talk@autox.team.net
References: <CAK73_u7cR0FyuOZdjDhUmDB_COPWxUetMESKAU_RxY-7uCekuQ@mail.gmail.com> <CAO8Q7CNTYdw3cC4bAByLEZRGWKkWktcCL0C-6a40apcAJQ3EqA@mail.gmail.com> <CANuE7YBw5nVP+axVNdsY3R1E7J-6AstSqDooSq6A=yiBcy5UoA@mail.gmail.com>
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Eventual solution: a combination of several things.

1) use Demel to cut a deeper flat into the screw head, unscrew like a
normal screw.
2) press down REALLY HARD with flat-blade screwdriver into security screw
head, eke out 1/4 turn at a time.
3) needle-nose vice grips.

Two came out using #2. The rest were #1.There were four screws per window
and...a lot of windows. The stupidest thing about this is that the latch
locks closed over one of the screw heads--so you can't access that screw
until it unlocks. You can, however, just break off the latch handle with a
pair of pliers very easily. This also removes the latch tooth, allowing you
to open the window. So as a security feature those latches are pretty
useless.

FWIW, I remembered I had a security screw removal set of bits, including
the "fork" bits that are supposed to work on those security screws. I
couldn't get them to work--they just cammed out like a regular flat-blade.

On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 2:52 PM John Innis <jdinnis@gmail.com> wrote:

> Wow $40 for a pair of pliers.  Maybe worth it if they work, but pretty
> steep to take a chance on...
>
> On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 2:00 PM Jeff Scarbrough <fishplate@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Oddly enough, I got a link to this today...One application is removing
>> stubborn/anti-tamper screws
>>
>> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMOAYR2/
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 9:42 PM Scott Hall <scott.hall.personal@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> New house was a foreclosure.  It was 'secured' at some point.  One of
>>> the security features was locking sash latches in all the windows.  They
>>> did not leave a key to those locks.  The sash latches are secured with
>>> security/one-way screws that cannot just be unscrewed.
>>>
>>> They're also pretty hard and so close to the window pane itself that
>>> drilling them with a reverse drill bit isn't working.  And they're small
>>> enough that just grabbing them with a needle-nose vice grip isn't working
>>> either.
>>>
>>> Any advice before I do something stupid and screw up what we're some
>>> nice windows before the idiots got involved?
>>>
>>

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Eventual solution: a combination of several things.</=
div><div><br></div><div>1) use Demel to cut a deeper flat into the screw he=
ad, unscrew like a normal screw.</div><div>2) press down REALLY HARD with f=
lat-blade screwdriver into security screw head, eke out 1/4 turn at a time.=
</div><div>3) needle-nose vice grips.</div><div><br></div><div>Two came out=
 using #2. The rest were #1.There were four screws per window and...a lot o=
f windows. The stupidest thing about this is that the latch locks closed ov=
er one of the screw heads--so you can&#39;t access that screw until it unlo=
cks. You can, however, just break off the latch handle with a pair of plier=
s very easily. This also removes the latch tooth, allowing you to open the =
window. So as a security feature those latches are pretty useless.=C2=A0</d=
iv><div><br></div><div>FWIW, I remembered I had a security screw removal se=
t of bits, including the &quot;fork&quot; bits that are supposed to work on=
 those security screws. I couldn&#39;t get them to work--they just cammed o=
ut like a regular flat-blade.</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 2:52 PM John Innis &l=
t;<a href=3D"mailto:jdinnis@gmail.com";>jdinnis@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>=
</div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;b=
order-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Wo=
w $40 for a pair of pliers.=C2=A0 Maybe worth it if they work, but pretty s=
teep to take a chance on...<br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div di=
r=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 2:00 PM Jeff Scarbro=
ugh &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:fishplate@gmail.com"; target=3D"_blank">fishplate@=
gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=
=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding=
-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Oddly enough, I got a link to this today...One =
application is removing stubborn/anti-tamper screws<div><br></div><div><a h=
ref=3D"https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMOAYR2/"; target=3D"_blank">https://www=
.amazon.com/dp/B00LMOAYR2/</a><br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote=
"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 9:42 PM Sco=
tt Hall &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:scott.hall.personal@gmail.com"; target=3D"_bla=
nk">scott.hall.personal@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=
=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rg=
b(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">New house was a foreclos=
ure.=C2=A0 It was &#39;secured&#39; at some point.=C2=A0 One of the securit=
y features was locking sash latches in all the windows.=C2=A0 They did not =
leave a key to those locks.=C2=A0 The sash latches are secured with securit=
y/one-way screws that cannot just be unscrewed.=C2=A0=C2=A0<div dir=3D"auto=
"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">They&#39;re also pretty hard and so close to =
the window pane itself that drilling them with a reverse drill bit isn&#39;=
t working.=C2=A0 And they&#39;re small enough that just grabbing them with =
a needle-nose vice grip isn&#39;t working either.=C2=A0=C2=A0</div><div dir=
=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Any advice before I do something stup=
id and screw up what we&#39;re some nice windows before the idiots got invo=
lved?</div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></div>
</blockquote></div></div>

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