Best way of getting a cab apart when the screws are rusted and gouged?

[Jennings]

I'm trying to get a 70s Marshall Artiste 2x12" combo cab apart for rebuilding.  basically the cab's sound, but the baffle's shot to bits where the speakers should mount.  It needs a new baffle, but I need to get the old one off to measure and replace it.  Problem is the cab arrived with half the screw heads reamed out and rusty so I can't get a grip with my screwdriver!  Anyone got any good advice on getting the baffle off when it's like this?!  I can't imagine drilling them, as I'll never get the cab under my bench pillar drill and hold it steady!  All I can think to do is hit the baffle from inside the cab with a mallet, close to where each knackered screw is, until it tears/pushes the baffle off the old screw shaft. 

[sluckey]

Try a "screw extractor". Works in a portable drillmotor in reverse slow speed. Lowes has a couple different styles. Be patient. I'd save the mallet idea for the very last resort. Using a mallet will likely tear up something besides the baffle board.

[Jennings]

Wow!  I never knew these existed!!!  Thanks...I'll get hold of a set ASAP and get to work!

[G._Hoffman]

If that doesn't work, you can get one of THESE.  But if you can make the back out extractor work, you only need to get it out far enough to grab it with a vice grip pliers, which will get you the rest of the way. so those are preferable if they will work.


Gabriel

[shortfuse]

Gabriel
Thats a cool tool.  I was an automotive machinist for a long time and never really got into the wood stuff that much besides rough carpentry.  I have 2 jobs I could use these on right now.

[Jennings]

Wow!  Thanks for the tips...I managed to get a couple of the scres out, and the rest just kind of crumbled or snapped at the head making it easier to push the baffle off...so it's finally off!  Think next time (if there is one!) I'll try one of those little bore tips there to burrow round the screw...the dowel fix idea seems very neat to me, and less general faff.  Cheers Gabriel :-)