[azallie]

A year ago we had our shower retiled and the drain pan was not replaced only the drain cover. The installer did not use stainless steel screws causing the screws to rust and when I tried to replace the rusted screws one broke in the hole and the other won't budge.

My question is, is there a slip-on drain cover for the drain that doesn't require it to be screwed in? Thank you.

[jhardegr]

If it were me I would go to the hardware store and purchase an inexpensive "screw extractor"

(see: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...291&lpage=none).

You use a drill to make a small hole in the broken screw (the part that's still in the drain ;-) and then you insert the screw extractor. It has a reverse thread on it so when you turn the screw extractor counter-clockwise, its threads engage tighter and tighter into the hole in the old screw. If you are very careful and patient, you can usually get the old screw to come out.

Make sure you put lots of penetrating oil on the old screw and let it sit for awhile before you begin trying to extract it. Obviously there will be a lot of rust, etc. holding it in and you want to soften that up as much as possible.

Also, take a metal punch or a large nail and use it with a hammer to give the old screw a few whacks, which will also help loosen it up. You can also heat it up a little with a propane torch which will cause it to expand, and then contract again when it cools which also helps loosen it, but you have to be very careful to not scorch anything.

CAUTION: The biggest mistake people make (I've made it several times myself) is to get in a hurry and break the drill bit off inside the old screw. In that case you're really in trouble because you will never be able to get a screw extractor into it once that happens.

If you drill the hole successfully but the screw extractor isn't able to remove the screw (or if you break the drill bit off inside the screw) then your next option is to go to the hardware store and purchase a "tap" and "tap wrench"

(see: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...091&lpage=none

and

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...211&lpage=none)

You then drill a set of fresh holes in the drain, usually 90deg offset from the originals and then use the tap to cut threads into the new holes. Now you can simply fasten the drain cover back to the drain using the new holes and screws.

Cutting threads with a tap is very easy but again, you need to be patient and careful. I've always gotten the best results by keeping the tap and hole saturated with oil (I just use 3-1 or something) to keep the tap from overheating (cutting threads generates a lot of heat).

Also, the technique that works best for me is to turn the tap perhaps 1/4 turn at most, then back it out 1/8 of turn, then turn it in another 1/4, back it out 1/8, like that. Don't try to cut the entire thread in a single step.

Also, make sure you drill the hole, and position the tap as vertically straight and centered as possible.

Good Luck, and please indicate if this answer was helpful to you.

--John

[speedball1]

John gave you excellent instructions for removing the old screws and retapping the screw holes. Let me give you another option. Most hardware stores sell snap on shower strainers, (see image) that need no retaining screws and just snap in place. And now you have more then one option. Good luck, Tom