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Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
7
Time Required
5 - 45 minutes
Sections
1
- How to Remove a Stripped Screw
- 7 steps
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Introduction
Techniques:
- Different ScrewdriverRubber BandScrew Extracting PliersSuperglueRotary Tool
Always wear safety goggles when using a rotary tool to prevent injury from debris or sparks.
What you need
Video Overview
Step 1
How to Remove a Stripped Screw
- Your screw is stripped, and your screwdriver is no longer sufficient. Before busting out the heavy hitters, try the following:
- Use different screwdrivers. First try slightly smaller or larger head sizes, then a flat head screwdriver, to see if you can get it to catch on some part of the stripped screw.
- If the bit doesn’t catch the screw instantly, do not continue. Otherwise, you run the risk of further stripping the screw.
- If either of these techniques are fruitful, congrats! Your screw is free.
Your screw is stripped, and your screwdriver is no longer sufficient. Before busting out the heavy hitters, try the following:
Use different screwdrivers. First try slightly smaller or larger head sizes, then a flat head screwdriver, to see if you can get it to catch on some part of the stripped screw.
If the bit doesn’t catch the screw instantly, do not continue. Otherwise, you run the risk of further stripping the screw.
If either of these techniques are fruitful, congrats! Your screw is free.
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Step 2
- A rubber band can give you the extra grip you need.
- Stretch a rubber band over the stripped screw.
- Insert a properly-sized screwdriver, and give it a turn.
A rubber band can give you the extra grip you need.
Stretch a rubber band over the stripped screw.
Insert a properly-sized screwdriver, and give it a turn.
Step 3
- If the screw head is accessible, try a pair of screw extracting pliers. If you can get a good grip, turn the pliers and the screw should turn along with it!
- Once the screw is loosened a bit, you can probably back it out the rest of the way using a screwdriver.
If the screw head is accessible, try a pair of screw extracting pliers. If you can get a good grip, turn the pliers and the screw should turn along with it!
Once the screw is loosened a bit, you can probably back it out the rest of the way using a screwdriver.
Step 4
- Still stuck? Try adding a dab of superglue to the top of the screw.
- Set your driver into the screw head, and allow the glue to dry.
- Using a firm grip and downward pressure, give the driver a twist to remove the screw.
- Don’t forget to clean the remains of the glue from the tip of your driver.
Still stuck? Try adding a dab of superglue to the top of the screw.
Set your driver into the screw head, and allow the glue to dry.
Using a firm grip and downward pressure, give the driver a twist to remove the screw.
Don’t forget to clean the remains of the glue from the tip of your driver.
Step 5
- If you were unable to remove the screw with screwdrivers, pliers, a rubber band, or super glue, then a rotary tool should do the trick.
- Attach a thin cutting disk to your rotary tool. Before you cut anything, make sure the disk is secured well.
- Make sure you wear protective goggles anytime you use a rotary tool to prevent injuries from flying debris and sparks.
If you were unable to remove the screw with screwdrivers, pliers, a rubber band, or super glue, then a rotary tool should do the trick.
Attach a thin cutting disk to your rotary tool. Before you cut anything, make sure the disk is secured well.
Make sure you wear protective goggles anytime you use a rotary tool to prevent injuries from flying debris and sparks.
Step 6
- In this step, you will use the rotary tool to make a thin cut in the stripped screw that enables you to use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screw.
- We recommend using a low power setting (we used 2 out of 6) to prevent damaging the rest of the device or the screw.
- You want the cut to be deep enough that you can fit a flathead screwdriver into it, but thin enough that the screwdriver has something to grip.
- Make a single thin cut into the head of the stripped screw.
In this step, you will use the rotary tool to make a thin cut in the stripped screw that enables you to use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screw.
We recommend using a low power setting (we used 2 out of 6) to prevent damaging the rest of the device or the screw.
You want the cut to be deep enough that you can fit a flathead screwdriver into it, but thin enough that the screwdriver has something to grip.
Make a single thin cut into the head of the stripped screw.
Step 7
- Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screw from the device.
- The size of the driver will depend on the size of the screw, but use the largest size that will fit in your cut.
- If you cannot fit a screwdriver into the cut, use the rotary tool to make the cut larger. Make only small cuts; if you cut off too much of the screw, a screwdriver will not catch and you will not be able to twist the screw.
- Wear eye protection and give your device a few good blasts of compressed air before reassembling it. The rotary tool can scatter loose metal shavings around the device, creating the potential for an electrical short if not blown clear.
Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screw from the device.
The size of the driver will depend on the size of the screw, but use the largest size that will fit in your cut.
If you cannot fit a screwdriver into the cut, use the rotary tool to make the cut larger. Make only small cuts; if you cut off too much of the screw, a screwdriver will not catch and you will not be able to twist the screw.
Wear eye protection and give your device a few good blasts of compressed air before reassembling it. The rotary tool can scatter loose metal shavings around the device, creating the potential for an electrical short if not blown clear.
Check out the video in the intro for some additional tips on dealing with stripped screws. Always use a high-quality screwdriver. Low-quality screwdriver material will cause damage to screws.
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Jake Devincenzi
Member since: 04/18/2011
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Cleyton - Jun 27, 2013
Reply
I usually use the soldering iron, resting on the screw head dilation of the materials or any glue on the thread, but if the damage the screw head is large only with the idea of same rotary tool.
koesper - Aug 28, 2014
Reply
“To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.”
Yeah, that makes perfect sense… If you put the saw in reverse it glues all the buts of iron back onto the screw :-)
But other than that, this could be useful in some situations. Be careful,of the iron filings on your electronics!
Jeff Suovanen - Jul 2, 2015
Haha, good catch! We’ve fixed the conclusion. Apologies to all who tried so very hard to follow these instructions in reverse.
Tectorius Rep - Mar 25, 2015
Reply
You could also try Bit-Biter. The unique formula multiplies friction between a slipping driver and fastener head, creating enhanced gripping power during installation and removal processes. Stripped, rusted, or damaged fasteners and drivers become workable again! http://bit.ly/19PJn3w
Jeanne - Apr 8, 2016
The link has changed if you wanted to try Bit-Biter http://bit.ly/1nMo35w we updated our website and the previous link does not work. www.tectorius.com
