Introduction: How to Remove a Stripped Screw

By 1 O A K Design
About: I've always been intrigued by coming up with new ways to accomplish task. I am an entrepreneur at heart. I've owned my own Construction business that specialized in Historic properties, I've flipped home, an…
This is a new Take on removing a stripped screw. I think we have all seen the old ways of removing a stripped screw. For example, use a tool to cut a slit in the head so a flat head screw driver can remove it. Well have you ever tried to remove a 3" screw with a flat head screw driver. It is a nightmare to say the least! How many times have you grabbed the vise grips to try and speed up the process to realize that wasn't a great plan either. Or how about those specialty screw removers. Well all I have to say is the three sets I bought must have been defective. They caused me more headache then the original stripping of the screw did. So now what are we left with. I guess you could just break the screw off. Most wood screws will break off by hitting them side to side. But that isn't a good quality job or maybe you need a screw where that one is.


Well your not alone. I've been down this road way to many times and I have found the winning solution. It's fast, easy and your going to think why haven't I already thought of this. Or maybe you have!

Step 1: Getting a Grip on Things

Well I have seen many DIY videos telling me how to get a stripped screw out.

Step 1
Strip screw head!

Step 2
Yell words the kids are not suppose to hear

Step 3
Apologize to the wife for being such a bad person in front of the kids

Step 4
Use a Dremel with a cutting disc to cut a groove through the center of the screw head.

Step 5
Put a band-aid on your finger you just cut while yelling more obscene words.

Step 6
Find a flat head screw driver, hopefully you didn't through out all your grandfather old tools. Do they even make these things anymore? I'm just kidding guys!

Step 7
Spend 30 Minutes trying to remove it then switch to the vise grips to finish it off. Be sure to take breaks and use more obscene words.

Step 8
Get the same screw and after it strips again do steps 1-7 again with more bad words involved.

OR YOU COULD!

Attachments

Step 2: Speeding Things Up!

Prep:
You will need you screw head to be sticking out about a 1/4" from your work surface.
(If you don't have this clearance you may need to cut a slit in the head of your screw so a flat head screw driver can fit. Then back the screw out to about 1/4" clearance from your work surface.)

Step 1
Take a standard drill without a bit. Open up the chuck so the head of the screw or shaft of the screw (if no head is present) fits into the chuck.

Step 2
Now hand tighten chuck onto screw. Get it as tight as you can.

Step 3
Put drill in reverse and slowly back screw out.

Step 4
Celebrate while your grandfather tries taking out the other stripped screw the old school way!

Step 5
30 minutes later show him how to do it the easy way!