Rolleicord II - problem with hood screws and lens wrench question

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

I have a Rolleicord II that I started to take apart to clean the focus screen, replace mirror etc.
Unfortunately, I managed to ‘mangle’ the screws holding the hood — two of the heads are sufficiently damaged to prevent a flat head screwdriver from getting a purchase. I’m thinking of trying a small Philips head driver, if I can find one, in the hope it can grip and turn the screws. Would that work or does anyone have another suggestion? Once they’re out, is it easy to find replacements? I saw somewhere that someone had found replacements at a hobby shop but what thread type would fit?

Finally, any suggestions for a decent lens wrench? I have a very cheap Chinese one and it’s pretty terrible. It just doesn’t stay at the width I set. The SK Grimes look good but the cost is more than I’d care to spend for an occasional use.

 

[02Pilot]

It's unfortunate, but the fact is that cheap tools often end up costing more than expensive ones. The mangled screw heads may have been due to ill-fitting screwdrivers; you'll want to get a better (or more comprehensive) set. Amazon offers several reasonably prices spanners - just make sure you get one that secures the spanner elements at multiple points.

As far as getting out the buggered screws, a Phillips-head is unlikely to work. If you can file good groves to use a larger flathead, that's your best first option. Failing that, you may need to drill and either chase the threads or cut new ones.

 

[Greyscale]

The best way to get those messed up screws out may be by using a needle-nose pliers to grip the side of the screwheads and turning them in tiny little increments.

 

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

Thanks both of you. I'll try the file technique on those screws. I've taken a hacksaw to much larger screws for the same reason but the idea of using a file never occurred to me. If it doesn't work, the needle-nosed pliers.

There is a decent looking wrench, the Andoer Professional DSLR Camera Tool on Amazon but some of the screw drivers' reviews make me wonder if they're entirely genuine so I'm still trying to make up my mind.

 

[Bill Clark]

I've used a file that's triangular shaped. Would work pretty well to carve out the slots on the heads of the screws. Otherwise a needle nose pliers or a small vice grip used on the edges to get each of them to come out.

File here:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-triangular-file.htm

Be careful though. One ah-sugar brings your that-a-boys count back to zero!

 

[Dan Daniel]

Lens wrench- if you are willing to live dangerously- grind new tips on a pair of needle nose pliers.

 

[rick oleson]

Instead of a file, try an Xacto razor saw (the one with a blade about 6 inches long and 3/4" wide, that plugs into a plastic handle). This will cut a very narrow slot in the screw head, so it can deepen your damaged slots without making them wider. You may then have to grind down the tip of a screwdriver blade to make it thin enough to fit in the slot (which may be the reason your screws got buggered in the first place - camera screw slots are narrower than standard screws of the same size)

 

[FrankS]

The same way you can buy mini screwdrivers, there are inexpensive kits of mini files. File a new slot, as advised.