How to remove a broken screw or bolt

Stuff Happens When You Are Using Fasteners!

If you have done as much working with fasteners as I have, you will have experinced that "camed out" recess, broken screw or bolt, maybe that "dog eared" corners on that hex head bolt or lag screw.

We have put together a few ways to remove those stripped or broken screws and bolts. These will not be any specific order of the various processes. You will have to choose the one that you think fits your situation.

You will need a bit of muscle to remove stripped screws, no matter which material, metal, plastic, or wood, You must use firm pressure and patience, moving the screw a fraction of a turn at a time or you might end up with some unexpected damage to something special.

Screw Grab® Friction Drops

• Increase torque by up to 800%
• Tools "Grab" to removed deformed screw heads or rounded hex's and sockets
• Works instantly
• Easy to use, wipes clean
• Satisfaction guaranteed

A single dab of SCREW GRAB® creates a positive grip between metal surfaces (tests have shown as high as 800%) that virtually eliminates tool wear or rounding and deforming of fasteners.

 

Works on:

• Rounded or deformed heads
• Seized, rusted or hard-to-reach spots
• Sloppy or mis-matched sockets
• Stops bit from turning in a chuck
• Prevent tool wear

 

APPROVED for use on Boeing Airline Jets, Military Fighter Jets & the RAF, resulting in SIGNIFICANT LABOR COST REDUCTION in time & efficiency for service departments.

What to do when the head snaps off leaving the rest of the screw in the wood.

5 Piece Broken Wood Screw Removal Set

These heavy duty "Spring Steel" are designed to drill along the side of the screw so it can be removed with minimal damage to surrounding wood. Once the screws is removed, the hole can be plugged using a dowel the size of the hole and a screw reinserted into the same place.

• The broken screw can be replaced with the same-sized screw. Once the screw is removed, the hole can be filled with a dowel and a new screw put in the same location.
• A longer or thicker screw may be needed, especially if the structural strength is important, often the hole must be epoxied or plugged and redrilled

5 Piece Broken Wood Screw Removal Set, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, and 5/16 in.

5 Piece Screw Extractor Set

When you have a bolt/screw that the head tore off, all you can do is pull out your handy, dandy screw extractor set. This method is used for larger screws or bolts. If you try this method with these extractors on smaller screws, you probably will end up drilling the head off and using the screw extractor set above.

Remove screws with items you might have around the house.

You will need a bit of muscle to remove stripped screws, no matter which material, metal, plastic, or wood, You must use firm pressure and patience, moving the screw a fraction of a turn at a time or you might end up with some unexpected damage to something special.

• If you have a stripped-out Phillips screw many times just using a square drive bit will do it. You snug the bit tight into the head, always grab a slightly larger bit.
• Using a rubber band or steel wool in the screw head recess might give you the grip you need.
• Do you have an oscillating tool in your workshop, such as a Dremel, just cut a new flat recess for your bit.
• Use duct tape over the damaged head and try your bit or screwdriver again.
• Locking pliers sometimes can get the grip you need to remove a pan head screw.
• Left hand drill bits are designed to remove screws, make sure you get the ones for metal.
• A dab of glue from a glue gun will often get you going.
• Weld a nut to the screw head.
• Lapping fluid used in sharping is a liquid abrasive that might give your screwdriver the friction needed.
• Super glue an old smaller driver bit to the head, remove the screw and trash the screw and bit.
• Weld a nut onto the screw, a nut lets you hold the screw with a wrench.

Send us your ideas to [email protected] Titled screw removal we will add it to the list.