Dremel through screws?

Includes but not limited to: SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Game Gear and I guess the Virtual Boy.

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DJ711
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Dremel through screws?

Post by DJ711 »

Can I dremel through the screws? If so how?
I haven't been here in awhile, and looking back it's one of the worst ideas I ever had. I'm back and I'll be here for awhile, I was quite active 1 year ago and I hope to become that again.
bacteria
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by bacteria »

Yes, use a steel circular cutter, diamond edged. EG: THESE

I use these myself (not from this seller, but will probably buy some from him soon as they are cheap).

Be very careful, if you slip with these it could slice off your finger before you know about it - they are effective but vicious!
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DJ711
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by DJ711 »

I don't have those.
I haven't been here in awhile, and looking back it's one of the worst ideas I ever had. I'm back and I'll be here for awhile, I was quite active 1 year ago and I hope to become that again.
XCVG
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by XCVG »

Which screws? Why would you dremel through screws?
ShockSlayer
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by ShockSlayer »

I'd assume the 6 main case screws, aka the nintendo screws of suffering.

I'd just get a small, circular plastic cutting bit and cut around it.
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bacteria
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by bacteria »

XCVG wrote:Which screws? Why would you dremel through screws?
I use the metal diamond edged cutters to trim down screws, make the screw head better to allow a screwdriver to grip better, cutting metal pins, removing plugs of boards, etc. Just be careful it doesn't slip while dremeling. If you cut a channel in awkward screws like the Nintendo ones (used in the Nintendo consoles and also TurboGrafx) then you can use these screws easier for other things if you need to.
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XCVG
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by XCVG »

The main screws are way down in wells, no way you can get at those with a dremel.

I don't know about the N64, but I've opened NES and Genesis carts with a pair of extra-long, extra-narrow pliers. I've gone through about 10 pens opening an N64 though.
DJ711
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by DJ711 »

XCVG wrote:The main screws are way down in wells, no way you can get at those with a dremel.

I don't know about the N64, but I've opened NES and Genesis carts with a pair of extra-long, extra-narrow pliers. I've gone through about 10 pens opening an N64 though.
Tried it and miserably failed (Pen trick). Now I know why they are called the nintendo screws of suffering. I might have to just buy a tool to open it or dremel through the case and around the screws.
I haven't been here in awhile, and looking back it's one of the worst ideas I ever had. I'm back and I'll be here for awhile, I was quite active 1 year ago and I hope to become that again.
ShockSlayer
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by ShockSlayer »

What I recommend: Use a soldering iron and melt the screw as far as you can through the plastic, skipping the one that is sunk in the deepest, and then just use force to open that one, the post will break. Just be careful. This is how I open all my n64's now that I lost my gambit screwdriver.

SS
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stuntpenguin007
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by stuntpenguin007 »

I have gotten the pen trick to work, but you should probably just get a gamebit or special screwdriver, it will make life a lot easier.
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DJ711
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by DJ711 »

ShockSlayer wrote:What I recommend: Use a soldering iron and melt the screw as far as you can through the plastic, skipping the one that is sunk in the deepest, and then just use force to open that one, the post will break. Just be careful. This is how I open all my n64's now that I lost my gambit screwdriver.

SS
Melt it?

How? Just keep putting pressure on it?

I have everything to start this is the only thing holding me back.
I haven't been here in awhile, and looking back it's one of the worst ideas I ever had. I'm back and I'll be here for awhile, I was quite active 1 year ago and I hope to become that again.
bacteria
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by bacteria »

Seriously, get a Gamebit, they don't cost much and open N64, SNES, NES and TurboGrafx easily!
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by eurddrue »

bacteria wrote:Seriously, get a Gamebit, they don't cost much and open N64, SNES, NES and TurboGrafx easily!
Yeah, and they strip pretty easy too, but they are your best option by far.
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by vskid »

I still stand by the pen method. Not the easiest, but perfect if you don't want to wait. Just use the normal bic pens (the white ones that you can get for super cheap). Don't melt it too much, get it to where it's moldable if you press it on something, but don't burn it. Then jam it on the screw, wait 30 seconds or so, and then start twisting while pushing down. I usually have to remelt and push the melted parts back to a point for each screw.
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XCVG
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Re: Dremel through screws?

Post by XCVG »

vskid wrote:I still stand by the pen method. Not the easiest, but perfect if you don't want to wait. Just use the normal bic pens (the white ones that you can get for super cheap). Don't melt it too much, get it to where it's moldable if you press it on something, but don't burn it. Then jam it on the screw, wait 30 seconds or so, and then start twisting while pushing down. I usually have to remelt and push the melted parts back to a point for each screw.
The white pens? I'm pretty sure you are supposed to use the clear ones, which are polycarbonate.
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