**Help Needed: Identifying This Screw Head!**

[Pistachio Nuts]

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to unscrew some table leveling feet (they're rusted and stuck), and I’m having trouble figuring out what kind of bit I need to remove it. It’s not a Phillips, hex, Robertson, ECX1or2. The inside is kind of cone shaped. I’ve attached a close-up photo of the screw.

Has anyone seen this type of screw before? Any ideas on what kind of bit I should use?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TK4]

It's one use Chinesium - get out the drill.

 

[GreyGhost]

Big slot on an impact driver (ideally the kind you hit with a hammer) should get them moving. Otherwise drill to pop the head and then visegrips on the shaft.

Alternatively and it probably wont work and screw you but an extractor may be enough to get these out. On the same vein, torx and a hammer may cut it's own path and then you can spin it out.

 

[TwistedKestrel]

I'm wondering if that's even a screw, like if it's riveted or pressed in

 

[Mikedezo44]

looks like a rivet/pressed to me as well

 

[GreyGhost]

I'm wondering if that's even a screw, like if it's riveted or pressed in

That's plausible. I was trying to figure out why the cross was off center. If the lobes used to be vertical and were punched/rolled out to grab the plastic foot that would explain the asymmetry and why they are so difficult to unscrew.

 

[Relax]

Those leveling feet are probably meant to be turned by hand, or perhaps a nut on the other side that's not shown. I've never seen a levelling foot that needed to be lifted to level - kind of makes levelling difficult.

 

[GreyGhost]

Those leveling feet are probably meant to be turned by hand, or perhaps a nut on the other side that's not shown. I've never seen a levelling foot that needed to be lifted to level - kind of makes levelling difficult.

They may be levelling only in pitch and not in elevation. Just a wobbly plastic foot on the bottom of the leg. Not a great system but I've seen worse.

 

[Pistachio Nuts]

Thanks for all the replies! Now I know not to waste anymore time looking for a bit that doesn't exist!

 

[Mad Mike]

It’s a staked stem. Basically a rivet that has been crushed so it expands into the plastic foot.

It may be threaded, or it could be a plain rod with a small grip ring.

A bunch of penetrating oil followed be a stiff hammer blow should free it up. Then turn or wiggle it out with a pair of vice grips. You can also cut a slot in the foot using a small dremel .