How to Unscrew a Stripped Screw

By in WorkshopRepair

4,617

25

4

Introduction: How to Unscrew a Stripped Screw

By Click to find the subject Index
About: Fixer, Finder, Fabricator. I teach engineering to high school students, at St Marys Secondary College in Nathalia VIC Australia

This works for most screws with a stripped head or security bolts that you don't have the right tool for. Just grab a center punch and a hammer then center punch the side of the screw. When you have a big dent then start hitting the center punch on an angle to get the screw moving. Once its moved 1/2 a turn or so you can undo the screw with pliers or your fingers.

Burning Questions Contest

Grand Prize in the
Burning Questions Contest

Be the First to Share

    Recommendations

    Holographic Rainbow Reflective 3D Prints - 3D Printing on Diffraction Grating Sheets
    Holographic Rainbow Reflective 3D Prints - 3D Printing on Diffraction Grating Sheets by Penolopy Bulnick in 3D Printing
    35 4.0K
    Scrap Timber - Impossible Anti-Gravity, Cantilever Fish Bowl Stand / Planter Stand
    Scrap Timber - Impossible Anti-Gravity, Cantilever Fish Bowl Stand / Planter Stand by Prob1e in Woodworking
    196 17K
    Mini Hydroelectric Concrete Dam
    Mini Hydroelectric Concrete Dam by akashv44 in Science
    60 8.8K
    Belt-sander Linisher
    Belt-sander Linisher by stevemaskery in Woodworking
    84 9.3K

    • Make It Modular: Student Design Challenge

      Make It Modular: Student Design Challenge

    • Digital Fabrication Student Design Challenge

      Digital Fabrication Student Design Challenge

    • Build a Tool Contest

      Build a Tool Contest

    4 Comments

    0
    rickharris
    rickharris

    8 years ago on Introduction

    FAR better to buy screw remover they aren't expensive.

    31HPBnWbL3L.jpg
    0
    HankMcSpank
    HankMcSpank

    Reply 8 years ago on Introduction

    or even better, than those rolson extractors, is to buy a tool that you can use for removing stripped screws...and many other things

    http://www.precisehandtools.com/screw-pliers/engineer-pz-58-neji-saurus-gt-multi-purpose-pliers-with-screw-extractor-jaws

    0
    wilgubeast
    wilgubeast

    8 years ago on Introduction

    I always find myself unscrewing stripped screws or bolts out in the wild when I don't have ideal equipment with me. Rick isn't wrong, but this is a super-useful tip for people who may not run into stripped screws often enough to merit purchasing screw removers.

    0
    8bitMisfit
    8bitMisfit

    8 years ago

    yep.agreed. not a bad instructable tho.