Trouble with very old brass screws

[Pelican]

I am rebuilding the wheel of the DOLORES CATHERINE. She was built in 1936 and this is the original wheel. All of the perimeter screws are old brass. Naturally the heads turn to dust when pressure is applied with a screwdriver. No problem, just drill out the shank, right. There in lies the problem. The screws have a hard pin running down the center of the shank. This prevents drilling properly. Any ideas?

[Ed Harrow]

Do I understand that, in essence, the screw is cored with a steel pin, or something like that?

The mechanical approach would be to use one of those things called "un-screw-ums" or something like that, and sold in the back of our sponsor's magazine. You might well try to make your own using a suitably-sized roll pin (the ID of the pin should be close approx to the OD of the screw). Use a triangular file to make a "V" notch in the bottom of the split. Chuck this thing in a drill ("V" notch on the business end), aim it down over the screw and pull the trigger (in reverse, of course) and, with a bit of luck the screw will come out with minimal damage to the surrounding wood.

On the other hand, The Chemist may have some interesting ideas...