How to open screws without a screwdriver

You may often encounter a situation where you urgently need to open a screw but don’t have a screwdriver available. While using a screwdriver is the fastest and easiest way to remove a screw, there are other alternatives you can try if you can’t find a screwdriver, or if the screwdriver you have is the wrong type or size.

This method is useful when you want to open a Phillips screw but don’t have the correct screwdriver. A Phillips screw has two grooves that form a cross shape. In some cases, these grooves may differ in length, so you would use the longer groove to open the screw, as there are many tools you can improvise to fit the longer groove.

• Phillips screws can easily get damaged when the grooves formed by the two cuts become worn down. This makes it very difficult to open the screw as there are no longer clean grooves for the screwdriver to fit. You must be cautious when using these methods to avoid damaging the screw.

Use a blunt butter knife. A butter knife can be used similarly to a coin. Insert the tip of the knife into the long groove and turn it counterclockwise to loosen the screw.

• If the knife is of poor quality or too weak, or if the screw is tightly fastened, the knife may bend without opening the screw. Be cautious of damaging the knife.

Use a coin. Try inserting a small coin into the long groove and twisting it to open the screw. Coins are very useful for this purpose. This method is generally more effective for larger screws than smaller ones.

• Insert the coin into the larger groove and rotate it counterclockwise.

Use pliers or locking pliers. This method works best if the screw head protrudes above the surface. Use pliers or locking pliers to grip the edges of the screw head and twist it counterclockwise to open the screw.

• Needle-nose pliers may be more effective than regular pliers.

Use your thumbnail. Your thumbnail can only open a screw if it’s already relatively loose. Insert your thumbnail into the long groove and twist it counterclockwise. If the screw is already loose, it will come off easily, but if it’s still tight, this method won’t be effective.

Use an old CD. Insert the edge of an old CD into the long groove and rotate it counterclockwise. You might damage and/or break the CD, so only use an old, unwanted CD.

• If the screw is too tight, this method will also not work.

Use a metal saw to create a long groove in the screw, similar to a flathead screw. If the screw head is raised above the surface, you can use a metal saw to make a groove like that of a flathead screw. Hold the saw upright and slowly cut the screw head to form the groove.

• Avoid sawing into the surrounding wood or any material holding the screw.
• Remove the screw in the same way as a flathead screw, such as using a flathead screwdriver or another flat object like a credit card.

Use a flathead screwdriver. If you can’t find a Phillips screwdriver but have a flathead one, try using a flathead screwdriver long enough to fit the screw’s groove. Insert the tip into the groove and twist counterclockwise to remove the screw.

• This method works better for medium to large screws but not so well with smaller ones.
• Be careful not to damage the screw since the contact area with the screw head will be smaller than when using a Phillips screwdriver.

Use a plastic toothbrush. Take a plastic toothbrush and soften the handle with a lighter or another heat source. Once the plastic is softened, insert it into the screw head and wait for it to harden. When the handle hardens, you can twist the screw counterclockwise to remove it.

• This method usually only works for screws that aren’t too tight and can be easily turned.
• Be cautious when using the lighter to avoid accidents, and make sure to heat the toothbrush handle slowly to monitor the plastic melting process to avoid it completely melting.

This method can be used to open a flathead screw without a flathead screwdriver. A flathead screw has a single groove across the top. If you don’t have a flathead screwdriver, you can use any flat object to open the screw.

Use a card. Try using a card, such as a credit card, to turn the screw. Insert one edge of the card into the groove and twist counterclockwise to open the screw. Be sure to use an old card that is rigid enough, as the card might break while opening the screw.

Use a bottle cap opener. Take a bottle cap opener and insert it into the groove on the flathead screw. Twist the screw counterclockwise to remove it.

Use a coin. Try inserting a small coin into the groove and turning it counterclockwise. A small coin works well for this purpose, but a larger coin will be more effective if it fits the groove.

Use a blunt butter knife. A butter knife can be used similarly to a coin. Insert the tip of the knife into the groove and twist counterclockwise to open the screw.

• If the knife is of poor quality or weak, or if the screw is too tight, the knife might bend without loosening the screw. Be cautious of damaging the knife.

Use pliers or locking pliers. This method works only if the screw head is raised above the surrounding surface. Use pliers or locking pliers to grip both sides of the screw head and turn it counterclockwise to remove the screw.

• Needle-nose pliers may be more effective than regular pliers.

Sử dụng móng ngón tay cái. Móng ngón tay cái chỉ mở được ốc nếu ốc đã được vặn khá lỏng. Nhét móng tay vào rãnh và xoay ngược chiều kim đồng hồ. Nếu ốc đã tương đối lỏng thì nó sẽ long ra dễ dàng, nhưng nếu ốc còn chặt thì phương pháp này không hiệu quả.

Sử dụng phương pháp này nếu bạn gặp ốc đầu lục giác chìm. Ốc đầu lục giác chìm có hình lục giác chìm trên đầu và được dùng phổ biến cho nhiều mục đích. Ốc khóa đầu lục giác chìm có một cái chốt ở giữa đầu ốc mà bạn cần phải để ý.

• Ốc đầu lục giác chìm dễ bị hỏng nên bạn phải cẩn thận khi sử dụng công cụ thay thế để mở.

Sử dụng tua vít đầu dẹt loại nhỏ. Nhét đầu tua vít dẹt vào giữa hai cạnh đối diện của đầu ốc. Xoay ốc ngược chiều kim đồng hồ để mở ra. Bạn nhớ xoay chậm để tránh làm hỏng đầu ốc.

• Đối với ốc khóa đầu lục giác chìm, bạn phải nhét đầu tua vít vào giữa một trong các rãnh ngoài và chốt ở trung tâm đầu ốc. Cách này cũng tương tự như cách mở ốc đầu lục giác chìm thông thường.
• Ốc khóa đầu lục giác chìm thường phải xoay ngược hướng, nghĩa là bạn sẽ xoay theo chiều kim đồng hồ để mở.

Đập vỡ chốt trên đầu ốc khóa lục giác chìm. Nếu bạn có tua vít lục giác thông thường thay vì phiên bản dành cho ốc khóa, bạn có thể loại bỏ chốt ở chính giữa đầu ốc. Sử dụng búa và dùi hay đục và nhắm vào gốc của chốt. Gõ nhẹ lên đầu dùi để đập gãy chốt.

Drill a small hole in the hex screwdriver tip. If you encounter a recessed hexagonal lock screw and wish to open it with a standard hex screwdriver or drill bit, you can drill a small hole into the drill bit. This will create a hole that aligns with the pin at the center of the recessed hexagonal lock screw.

Use a plastic toothbrush. Take a plastic toothbrush and soften the handle with a lighter or another heat source. Once the plastic becomes soft, you can insert it into the screw head and wait for the plastic to harden. When the handle has hardened, twist the screw counterclockwise to open it.

Use this method to open very small screws without a screwdriver. Opening very small screws without the proper tools can be difficult. These screws are commonly used in electronic devices. If possible, use an eyeglass repair kit to remove the screw, as it will include small screwdrivers.

• If you don't have an eyeglass repair kit, try one of the following methods.
• Eyeglass repair kits are affordable and easy to find.

Use a knife tip. Use a sharp knife tip to rotate very small screws counterclockwise. Insert the knife tip into the groove, and if possible, angle the knife slightly to increase the surface contact between the knife and the screw.

Use a metal nail file. Take a metal nail file and insert the tip into the groove of the screw head. Twist the screw counterclockwise, being careful not to damage the head of the screw.

Use the pointed tip of small scissors. Insert the tip of small scissors into one of the grooves on the screw head. Twist the screw counterclockwise.

• You cannot use larger scissors to open very small screws.

Use tweezers. Insert the pointed end of the tweezers into the groove of the screw head and twist counterclockwise. The tips of the tweezers must be sharp enough to fit into the screw's groove.