Getting stripped screws out.....

[Mtrapp]

Anyone ever removed stripped screws from plastic? If so, how did you go about it?

I was taking all the screws out of one of my n64 original controllers so I could clean/lube the joystick, and the last screw (one of the small screws in the controller pak area) I couldn't get out. For some reason it was REALLY tight, and now it's stripped. It's in such a hard are to get to because it's in the controller pak area.. any suggestions?

If I can't get it, it's not the end of the world... but I'll never be able to replace the joystick so the controller will become worthless

[bicostp]

Is the screw deep in a screw well?

Usually if the screwdriver is starting to strip the screw head, I try to find a screwdriver that fits better or just press down on the thing really hard.

[Mtrapp]

Well the screw is prolly regular depth.. idk. I must have not pressed hard enough when I was originally trying to get it out - the screw head is completely stripped

[hailrazer]

Drill bit and drill off the head. You can make do with one in that spot.

[limpport]

Or you could use Ben's time-honored method of opening something:

[timmeh87]

if you can get a soldering iron at it and its the last screw, heat it up a lot and it will just pull through like butter

[Rekarp]

if you can get a soldering iron at it and its the last screw, heat it up a lot and it will just pull through like butter

This.

[collinE]

I've put solder on the top of the screw and put the screwdriver into it before it cools. creates a nice mold of the tip and doesn't destroy the case.

[Mtrapp]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think I'm gonna use a soldering iron to try getting to it, since it's such a small place. I don't want to risk melting any plastic; I'm pretty good with with my hands, but they're a little shaky working with small/precise tasks. I think I'm just gonna take a drill bit to it and get rid of that screw. Like hail said, losing one of the screws in the controller pak area won't really matter.