How to remove a stripped screw

If the screwdriver continuously slips off the screw head, you'll need to increase the friction or torque. You can enhance the grip between the screwdriver and the screw by using everyday items. For really stuck screws, you may need specialized tools, but most are quite inexpensive and easy to find.

Maximize grip strength. If the screw head can still be turned with a screwdriver, try one last turn by hand. First, follow these tips to increase your chances of success:

• If the screw is in metal, spray it with a rust remover like WD40 and wait about 15 minutes.
• Use the largest screwdriver that fits the screw.
• If possible, use a wrench to clamp onto the screwdriver handle to apply more torque.

Use additional materials to enhance grip. If the screwdriver keeps slipping off the stripped screw head, place a piece of material on the screw head to increase friction. Press the screwdriver onto the material and try again. Here are some options:

• Wide rubber strip
• Steel wool
• Green abrasive dishwashing pad
• Fabric tape, with the sticky side facing the screw head

Tap the screwdriver with a hammer. Gently tap the screwdriver to avoid damaging the screw head. Skip this step if you are working with delicate materials.

• This is a good option if the screw has a cross-head design.
• You can also use a square drill bit to tap into the screw head. Keep tapping until the drill bit penetrates the cross-head screw.

Apply pressure while turning. Place the palm of your hand on the handle of the screwdriver with your arm directly behind it. Use your entire forearm to push the screwdriver straight into the screw while turning.

• If the screwdriver slips, stop immediately. Letting it slip will only wear the screw head more and make it harder to remove. Ensure you're turning the screwdriver in the correct direction, usually counterclockwise (but not always). Applying pressure while turning helps minimize slipping.

Heat the screw. If you can heat the screw without damaging the material it’s attached to, the threads will loosen. Use a heat gun or propane torch to heat the screw, moving continuously to avoid overheating. Once the screw is hot enough to evaporate a drop of water, wait for it to cool and try again.

• This method is very effective if the screw has been secured with adhesive.

Use a grinder or hacksaw to cut a groove in the screw head. If the screwdriver still won’t grip the screw, cut a groove into the screw head. Insert a flathead screwdriver into the groove and turn to loosen the screw. You can combine this method with any of the above techniques.

Purchase a power screwdriver. A power screwdriver is a handheld tool designed to push the screwdriver bit deeper into the screw using pressure and a spring mechanism. This method is effective for solid structures, but may damage electronics or other delicate equipment. If you're concerned about damaging items, avoid using cheap power screwdrivers with stiff springs, as they require strong hammering force to operate.

• Avoid using electric power screwdrivers, as their force may damage surrounding materials.

Set the power screwdriver to screw-loosening mode. Some models have a switch to change the direction, while others require you to rotate the handle to adjust the rotation direction.

Position the power screwdriver. Attach the appropriately sized screwdriver bit to the tool. Insert the bit into the screw and hold the tool perpendicular to the surface of the screw. Grip the tool at the center and keep your hands away from the tool's rear.

• The screwdriver bits used in power screwdrivers are usually made from materials with high hardness to meet the work demands.

Tap the back of the tool with a rubber mallet. Hit the rear of the tool firmly using a heavy rubber mallet. Use a rubber mallet to avoid damaging the power screwdriver.

Check the rotation direction of the screwdriver. Some screwdrivers may vibrate or slip out of place after each strike. If needed, reset the tool to the "loosening" mode.

Repeat the process until the screw is loosened. Once the screw is loosened, you can use a regular screwdriver to remove it from the hole.

Purchase a screw extractor tool. If the screw head is worn but still intact, you should use a screw extractor tool. Essentially, this is a screwdriver tip made of super-hard metal with a reverse thread at the end. This is one of the most effective methods for removing stripped screws, but caution is needed. If the tool's tip breaks inside the screw, you will need to hire a professional to finish the job. To minimize the risk, choose a screw extractor that is no larger than 75% of the diameter of the screw shaft (not the head).

• For Torx screws or screws with a socket hole and a raised shaft, use a multi-tooth extractor tool. This tool fits snugly into the screw head and grips tightly with teeth on the inside. Instead of following the instructions below, gently tap the multi-tooth extractor tool and then rotate to extract the screw.

Drill a hole in the center of the screw head. Position the tool directly in the center of the screw head. Tap the extractor tool with a hammer to create an indentation that will guide the drill bit.

• Wear eye protection to avoid metal shavings flying into your eyes. Always wear safety glasses during the work process.

Drill a hole in the center of the screw head. Use a drill bit designed for hard metals. The screw extractor tool typically has the recommended drill bit size marked on its body. Drill slowly and apply steady pressure on the drill to maintain control. Start with a hole about 3-6mm deep; drilling too deep may cause the screw to break. It's better to start with a smaller drill bit to create a guide for a larger one.

Use a copper hammer to tap the extractor tool into the screw. The super-hard metal of the extractor tool is quite brittle, so using a steel or iron hammer could break it. Tap until the tool securely grips the hole you just drilled.

Carefully rotate the extractor tool. If the torque applied is too high or uneven, the tool might break, making the situation more difficult. The safest method is to use a handle that fits snugly on the extractor tool to remove the tool and the screw attached to it. Since drilling has already loosened the screw, you should typically be able to remove it without excessive force.

• Some screw extractor kits come with a nut that fits perfectly onto the tool. Use two wrenches to tighten the nut, creating a 180º angle to provide a more balanced torque.

Heat the screw if you can't remove it. If the screw hasn't swollen or if you're concerned the extractor tool might break, remove the extractor tool. Heat the screw and then apply paraffin wax or water to lubricate the threads. Try using the extractor tool again once the screw has cooled.

• Be cautious not to damage the surrounding materials. Even when working with metal, it's best to use a heat gun or a propane torch. Continuously move the torch around the screw to avoid overheating any one area for more than a second.

Attach a nut to the screw with epoxy resin. Find a nut that matches the diameter of the screw head. Bond them together using a two-part epoxy adhesive designed for metal-to-metal applications. Allow the adhesive to cure according to the instructions on the package, then use a pipe wrench to unscrew the nut.

Drill through the screw head. Drilling the screw head will often relieve the pressure on the screw body, making it easier to remove the screw. However, if this method fails, you've exhausted all other options. Choose a drill bit slightly larger than the screw body so that the head will separate completely as you drill through it. Start by drilling a hole in the center of the screw, and carefully drill through the hole you just created. Once the head is fully detached, use locking pliers to grip the screw body and twist it counterclockwise.

• If the screw head is uneven, use a file or grinder to smooth it out before drilling through the center.

Hire a professional. If all else fails, you may need to hire a professional to remove the screw using an electric discharge machining system. This is likely the best option if you've already used an extractor tool that has broken inside the screw.

• If you have access to the back of the object where the screw is attached, check if the screw body has passed through it. If the body has penetrated the material, use pliers to grip the screw's end and turn it from the back.
• Ensure you're turning the screw in the correct direction. Some screws have reverse threads, in which case you’ll need to turn it clockwise to remove it.
• Even one-way screws can be removed if necessary. Look online for methods on how to remove one-way screws.
• If the hole becomes damaged after removing the screw, there are several ways to repair it:
  • Drill a larger hole. To increase strength after drilling, apply thread-locking glue like Loctite into the hole and insert a helicoil insert.
  • Use a larger screw that has a self-locking mechanism to fit into the damaged hole.
  • Use a bolt and nut. If you need to connect two metal objects, weld a nut onto the metal to create a threaded connection point.

• The metal burrs on a damaged screw can cut your hands or cause the equipment to malfunction. It’s advisable to use a file to round off these metal edges.

• Screwdriver
• Screw extractor tool, screw extractor drill bit, or an extractor kit
• Pipe wrench
• Drill
• Metal drill bits
• Eye protection gear
• Gloves
• Hammer or rubber mallet
• Power screwdriver
• Screw extractor tool
• Locking pliers
• Cloth tape, rubber strips, steel wool, or abrasive pads