If the tip of the screwdriver continues to slide on the head of the screw, you need to increase the friction or the force of rotation. There are many simple ways to get a better grip using common materials. For really tightly fitting screws, you have to rely on special tools, many of which are widely available and inexpensive.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: With a Screwdriver
Step 1. Maximize your grip
If you can still insert the tip of the screwdriver over the screw head, make a last attempt to manually remove the screw. Follow these tips first to maximize your chances of success:
- If the screw is on a metal surface, spray some penetrating oil and let it work for at least 15 minutes;
- Use the largest possible screwdriver that you can snap onto the screw head;
- If you can, grab the screwdriver handle with a wrench for more turning force.
Step 2. Add materials to improve adhesion
If the tip of the screwdriver continues to slip from the stripped head of the screw, cover it with a small piece of material that offers greater adhesion; press it and hold it with the screwdriver and try again. Here are some suggestions:
- A large piece of elastic;
- Some steel wool;
- A piece of the green abrasive material found on kitchen sponges;
- Duct tape (with the sticky side facing the screw).
Step 3. Tap the screwdriver into place with a hammer
Be gentle so as not to break the screw head, but do not follow this method if you are working with a fragile object.
- This is a good method especially for Phillips screws.
- You can also take a size 1 drill bit and hammer it into the Phillips head screw until it penetrates it.
Step 4. Push hard as you rotate the tool
Place the palm of your hand on the end of the screwdriver handle keeping the arm aligned with it; press towards the screw with full forearm force as you turn the screwdriver.
If the tool slips, stop immediately. The continuous friction between the two surfaces worsens the wear of the screw head, making the work even more complicated; Also, be sure to turn the tool in the correct direction to extract the screw, which is usually counterclockwise (although not always). By pressing hard on the screwdriver you can avoid losing grip
Step 5. Warm up the area
If it is possible to apply heat to the screw head without damaging the object, know that this remedy often allows you to loosen the thread. Use a heat gun or propane flame and move it constantly to avoid overheating; when the hardware is hot enough for a drop of water to sparkle, wait for it to cool and try again to unscrew it.
This method is particularly effective when the screw has been secured with a thread locker
Step 6. Make a flat incision on the screw head using a Dremel or hacksaw
If you still can't get a good grip, you can make a notch on the screw to insert a flat screwdriver to try to turn it; you can combine this technique with those described above.
Method 2 of 4: With a screwdriver
Step 1. Get a screwdriver
It is a hand tool that allows the tip of the screwdriver to go deeper thanks to the weight and a spring. It is a very useful tool for sturdy constructions, but it could damage electronic devices and other delicate objects. If you have this fear, avoid cheap models that have a stiff spring, because they need to be hit with a hammer to be effective.
It is recommended not to use an electric screwdriver, as it exerts too much force and could damage the surrounding material
Step 2. Set the driver to remove the screw
Some models are equipped with a switch, for others you can choose the direction of rotation by turning the handle.
Step 3. Keep the tool in place
Insert the tip of the correct size into its end and position it over the screw respecting an angle of 90 °; grab it at the center point, taking care not to keep your hand close to the tip.
The bits supplied with the screwdriver are generally very durable, thus facilitating the process
Step 4. Hit the other end with a sledgehammer
Proceed decisively using a heavy hammer; generally a rubber tool is used to avoid scratching the screwdriver.
Step 5. Check the direction
Some models lose their correct position after each shot; if necessary, set it each time so as to unscrew the small parts.
Step 6. Repeat the sequence until the screw has loosened
Once loosened, you can use a regular screwdriver to remove it.
Method 3 of 4: With an Extractor
Step 1. Purchase an extractor
If the screw head is damaged but intact, purchase this tool; in practice it is a normal screwdriver, but with particularly hard tips and with a reverse thread. It represents one of the most logical solutions to remove a stripped screw, but it requires attention; if the puller breaks it, you may need to hire a professional to get the job done. To minimize the risk of this happening, choose a model whose diameter does not exceed 75% of that of the screw shank (not the head).
For Torx head or hex head screws that have a cylindrical body, use a multi-slot extractor. This tool fits on the head of the screw by engaging the different "teeth" in the internal surface. Instead of following the instructions described below, gently hammer this type of extractor into place and turn it with a socket wrench
Step 2. Drill a hole in the screw head
Place an awl exactly in the center and hit it with a hammer to create a pilot notch for the drill bit.
Wear protective goggles to prevent metal chips from hitting your eyes, and keep them for the duration of the procedure
Step 3. Make a hole in the screw head
Use a special hard metal tip that has the correct diameter for the extractor. You can find the exact size of the tip to use stamped on the extractor itself. Slowly drill the screw using, if possible, a pillar drill which is more stable. Penetrates about 3-6 mm; going further could break the vine. At the beginning, it is worth using a smaller tip, to give the larger one a good surface to grip on.
Step 4. Tap the extractor with a brass hammer
However, the extra-hard material of which the tool is made is also very fragile and could break under the blows of an iron or steel hammer; tap it until it fits snugly into the hole you made.
Step 5. Carefully rotate the extractor
If the force applied is excessive or uneven, you could crack the tool and end up with a worse problem. The safest thing to use is an interlocking handle, which fits over the tip of the extractor and allows you to remove it along with the screw. The hole drilling procedure should also have loosened the screw, so you shouldn't exert too much force.
Some puller kits come with a nut that screws onto the tool head; grab this nut with two spanners arranged 180 ° together to exert constant force
Step 6. If the screw does not come off, try heating it
If it does not move or if you are concerned that the extractor may break, remove it and heat the small parts with a blowtorch; then drop a drop of paraffin or water to lubricate the thread. Make another attempt with the extractor once the screw has cooled down.
Be careful not to damage the surrounding material. Even if you are working with metal, it is always best to use a heat gun or a propane flame; constantly move the heat source on the vine to avoid heating the area for more than a second at a time
Method 4 of 4: Additional Techniques
Step 1. Secure a nut to the screw head using epoxy
Find a nut that fits snugly and "glue" it to the top of the screw using two-part metal epoxy. Wait until the resin has dried and stabilized according to the instructions on the package, then use a socket wrench to grab the nut and rotate it.
If you don't have the right size nut, you can use a smaller screw on top of the wedged one, but this method doesn't offer a good grip
Step 2. Drill the screw head
By breaking the screw, the pressure exerted on the threaded shank is generally loosened, simplifying its extraction; however, if the method doesn't work, you no longer have many options at your disposal. Choose a drill bit that is slightly larger than the shank of the screw, so that the head is completely drilled. First make a pilot notch with an awl right in the center of the screw and take care to drill into that exact site. Once the screw head is broken, grab the shank with self-locking pliers and turn it counterclockwise to remove it.
If the screw does not have a flat head, file or sand it with a Dremel in which you have inserted a pointed wheel; proceed with the awl and drill only after you have a flat surface to work on
Step 3. Rent a professional tool
If you don't get any results, go to the hardware store and get a machine that removes the screw through EDM. This may be the best solution in case the extractor has broken inside the screw.
Advice
- If you have access to the back of the object, check if the tip of the screw protrudes; if so, try to grab it with a pair of pliers or a hex wrench and twist it to unscrew it from underneath.
- Remember to turn the screw in the correct direction; it may in fact have the reverse thread, which means you have to rotate it clockwise to remove it.
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If the remaining hole has very bad edges, there are several ways to fix it:
- Use a tap to thread and widen the hole, then apply adhesive to improve adhesion and insert a threaded insert;
- Insert a larger, self-locking screw into the stripped hole;
- Use a bolt and nut; if you need to fix metal components, you can use this kind of hardware to create a threaded support that stays in place.
