removing rusty rounded off screws

[absolute]

Following on from my post about my front brake light switch, does anyone have a nice easy technique for removing screws that have rusted and become unscrewable? I wanted to remove my brake light switch but it was rusty as hell and as soon as the screwdriver went in and started to turn it just round a big hole in it. I think I am going to come across this as a lot of the screws look like they haven't faired too well with age. I'm not the most competent person when it comes to mechanical things so if anyone has a nice easy way of helping me fix this problem it would be very much appreciated..

[CB 4]

Goodmorn not sure if this will help but maybe u could cut a flat into head of screw with hacksaw to try and get a flat blade screw driver in ,apply some release oil and wait some time , also u could carefully flatten the head of screw witha flat punch and hammer this can restore screw head enough to turn , in some cases an application of heat from a heat gun can help but it must de done carefully .Impact drivers can help but used with care on bikes , best of luck reg c

[absolute]

Goodmorn not sure if this will help but maybe u could cut a flat into head of screw with hacksaw to try and get a flat blade screw driver in ,apply some release oil and wait some time , also u could carefully flatten the head of screw witha flat punch and hammer this can restore screw head enough to turn , in some cases an application of heat from a heat gun can help but it must de done carefully .Impact drivers can help but used with care on bikes , best of luck reg c

Thanks for the quick reply, I do have access to a dremmel with all sorts of attachments so I am wondering if this might help me, some of what you have said has made sense, although I have to admit, from the middle onwards of your post I got a bit lost, not sure what a flat punch or impact driver is.

I am rubbish with tools.

[The Novice]

one of the best things I bought - and has got me out of trouble a few times with screws made of cheese.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165469

[CB 4]

Sorry an impact driver is a tool which is spring loaded an u strike it with a hammer and it shocks the screw loose ,some parts on a bike like engine cases need special care with this approach they can be very fragile.
The flat punch or even a flat bit of solid bar say 8mm in diameter by say 5inches long could be used to flatten the screw head and it may restore some shape to the screw head and alllow u to get some purchase and loosen it with a screw driver. ope that elps a bit better regards craig

[The Novice]

i found that the impact driver screw bits are also awesome, a lot cheaper than buying a load of pro screwdrivers. So if you cant hit with force, you can still use it like a frickin good screwdriver. Try it and take it back if its sh1t.