Try giving the CRC a little more time to work. Douse it and leave it overnight. It takes time to properly penetrate the thread of the bolt.

If you can get your hands on good old 'Amway' Wonder Mist.... You won't regret it.

Says on the spray can (235g) "Spray lubricant and corrosion inhibitor for home and industrial use. Lubricates locks, hinges, windows, sliding doors, gears, springs, precision tooks, small motors, toys, bicycles and sporting equipment. Penetrates quickly to loosen corroded nuts, bolts, fasteners and screws. OUTSTANDING CORROSION & RUST INHIBITOR that keeps metal parts looking and operating like new. Stops squeaks & reduces friction. Moisture retardant forumlae."

I wouldn't go past this product. Spray it on, leave it for about 15 minutes, spray a dot more, and (so it doesn't damage the board) tap the top of the hammer and turn at the same time until it loosens - Worked a charm for my board screws.

Good luck!
Elizabeth Bate - Wello Kiter

OK, I haven't tried this, but this is what I'd do (carefully!)

After a good soaking with CRC or WD-40 or Wonder Mist, I'd use a variable speed cordless drill that takes screwdriver bits that also has a hammer mode. I'd attach a screwdriver bit, set it to hammer, maximum torque and use the slowest speed.

It MAY provide both the turning and shaking you need. It MAY break something and it MAY also do nothing, but I would try it if I had the same problem.

Easy, give the board to me.
I garuntee, within 5 minutes that mofo will come loose, with me a Km off shore and having to ride back wakeskate style

If it's the last screw, and the footstrap is free to rotate, then you can sometimes persuade it by rotating the whole footstrap around as you twist with the screwdriver. So you're driving the screw both from the top and also where the screw touches the footstrap.

[Edit] whoops, the head is on the bottom of the board, right? Well in that case hold the board and screwdriver still, and try to unscrew the footstrap by itself. In any case, you want the bit that is underneath the head to stay still with respect to the screwdriver, as this gives you a bit more twisting force.


As others have said, tapping the end of the screwdriver with a hammer as you twist also works wonders

I've had to resort to cutting a slot in the top before, it's really a last resort sort of thing. Grabbing the outside of the screw head with multigrips often works.

One other thing, some screws look like phillips but are actually a different shape, they have little sharp cutouts between the main 'phillips' lobes. It looks like someone got a scribe and put an 'x' in at 45 degrees to the main lobes. These require a special screwdriver, not a normal phillips, you can twist twice as hard with the special driver than a phillips.

Good luck!

smash the living crap out of it.

I've tried nearly everyone's suggestions to do with just screwing it out - ie tapping, twisting in both directions, soaking, lots of crc, rotating the footstrap whilst screwing and got the right size phillips head (it's definitely phillips head).
I've started to burr the screw, so multi-grips are my next option.

Then I'm thinking about heat, hack saw won't easily fit without damaging the footstrap.

So my last option will be drill plus the ezi-out or screw extractor. It's a slingy board - they have nice ~1/4" tread with mushroom/round head, so can get a decent size drill bit in there.

Does anyone know if the screw extractors (the one I have previously used looked like a conical shaped drill bit with a cutting edge winding around the piece) are ok to use with a stainless metal thread or are they only good with a screw/self tapping type thread?

Also, thanks everyone has been really helpful! And I'm sure will be helpful for others in the future. Will let you know what I find works best.

If you are already burring the bolt then you may as well use a Dremel to grind a straight slot into the bolthead. Then get the biggest flathead screwdriver you can find and plenty of elbowgrease.
Only use the Dremel for short bursts to prevent heat buildup, but once you have completed the slot, give the screwdriver a go straight away. Just like the soldering iron solution, the heat from the Dremel can assist getting the bolt out.

JB

Thanks for everyone's advice. I ended up being able to get them off with a pair of vice grips and an extra overnight soaking in crc. I had about 4 attempts on 4 different days and managed to get all but one out that way. Boy though, new bolts are exy!

Don't worry I didn't buy from a kite shop - WAY OVER PRICED! Got it from a boat builder for a bout half the price, but still exy.

Thanks heaps!

Had the same problem .What head has the bolt got ? If you have burred it ,cut a slot across the top .I use a brace and bit. Works every time .When you put the bolts back in smear with vaseline and check now and again .