Recommend a cheap, very thin coin

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by osullic, Jul 13, 2023.

  1. osullic

    osullic Junior Member

    Hi
    I wanted to get some coin advice...but not in relation to collecting. I want to buy a coin to use as a screwdriver!

    Basically, without getting into too much unnecessary details, I have a screw that I am having trouble unscrewing due to difficulty finding a screwdriver to fit. I thought a 10 mm slotted (flat-head) screwdriver would work, but they all seem to be too thick for the slot. Any thin-tipped screwdriver I have is not broad enough to reach both sides of the slot in question. See the attached image to understand what I mean.

    _DSC0469b.jpg

    So I am looking for a cheap coin I could buy that might replace the screwdriver. It needs to be less than 1mm thick, and it's quite hard to find coins that might do the job. I am in the UK, so I guessed that a UK coin would be cheapest to obtain. The Wikipedia article on the British farthing says that it's 0.666 mm thick, but I bought a 1948 one on eBay and it is more like 1 mm thick.

    Does anyone have any suggestions for a cheap, thin coin I could buy to do this job?
    Thanks for your suggestions!
     
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  3. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Ahhh! Shame on you..... hammer.gif
    :smuggrin:
     
    -jeffB likes this.
  4. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    Couldn't you file down a screwdriver head till it fits?
     
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  5. charley

    charley Well-Known Member

    I am not sure, and don't take this the wrong way, but it sure reads like maybe you have a screw loose.....or wound to tight.
     
    Tall Paul, Dynoking and expat like this.
  6. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    This Is The Way. Actually, The Way would be to get a proper retaining-ring tool, but I'd "sharpen" (file down) a cheap screwdriver.

    I don't think a coin would even work, because it wouldn't be able to get deep enough into the slot and still clear the surrounding ring. You'd just ruin a coin for nothing.
     
    Spark1951, Inspector43 and expat like this.
  7. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

    I too would file down a screwdriver to fit the screw. It will give you more power to remove your threaded bushing.
     
    Inspector43 likes this.
  8. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    Take it to a pro, “screw job, 25cents”
     
    Cheech9712 likes this.
  9. Inspector43

    Inspector43 More than 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I'm with the file down a cheap screwdriver gang.
     
    expat likes this.
  10. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    File down a screwdriver is the best option.
     
  11. Cherd

    Cherd Junior Member

    I agree with the rest, grinding your own "screwdriver" from hardened steel would be your best bet. Even if it would fit into the slot, a coin with the thickness that you are looking for would probably be pretty old (not cheap) and would have a metal composition (silver, etc) that probably wouldn't stand up to the torque forces that you need.
     
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  12. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    You could also take two small screwdrivers and clamp them together with vise grips, side by side. That would give you the width that's needed. Also keep in mind that one or both sets of threads may be reversed. Not sure what the part is.
     
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  13. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Well-Known Member

    Seriously? Why did you turn to using a coin instead of just making your own tool from screw driver?
    Me thinks I smell a troll, or not.
     
    Inspector43 likes this.
  14. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Grinder
     
  15. Spark1951

    Spark1951 Accomplishment, not Activity

    Just buy the correct tool, for cryin’ out loud…Spark
     
  16. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Brilliant
     
  17. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor Supporter

  18. rte

    rte Well-Known Member

    Go scrape your screwdriver on the sidewalk till it's as thin as you need.
    Think outside the box.
     
  19. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    I would buy a cheap Jeweler's screwdriver kit at a hardware store maybe?
    c13caec2-27d2-4f7d-a7a1-4db1424189fc_800x800.jpeg
     
    eddiespin likes this.
  20. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    Those are way too small.
     
  21. imrich

    imrich Supporter! Supporter

    I have several inexpensive belt sanders with belts of varying widths from 1" to 6", that allow a controlled modification to hardened tools as a screw driver, knife, chisel, ax, etc..

    An inexpensive H***** F****** 1" belt sander would facilitate modification to all of the aforementioned!
     
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