Best Way to Remove a Stripped Screw

Have you ever tried to dismantle something and as you remove the screws one of them suddenly strips? This is certainly can be a disappointing experience. Searching for a quick solution? Below is a list of 12 methods that can help you unscrew the stripped screw. Pick the simplest method that best suits your circumstances!

Twelve Ways to Remove a Stripped Screw

1. Easy-out Screw Extractor Method

Easy-out screw extractor is the most efficient method and it gets the job done quickly with minimal effort. These extractors are considerably cheap and will make the task very easy in addition to saving time.

2. Notch Method

In this method, you first create a notch at the top of the screw using a tool such as a Dremel. You will then place your flat head screwdriver in the notch and attempt to loosen the screw.

3. Hole Drilling Method

Are you skilled at drilling? If yes, you can use a drill to make a tiny hole at the middle of the screw. Just drill a tiny hole such that your cross head screwdriver can reach the bottom and enhance its grip as you twist it.

4. Welding Adhesive (JB Weld) Method

You can use super strong welding adhesives such as JB Weld to append a nut tightly to the top of the screw. Ensure that you use a nut that is relatively similar in size to the head of the screw or a nut whose hole diameter is slightly small compared to the hole diameter of the screw.

Position the nut directly above the screw and then cautiously spread JB Weld around to avoid spreading it all over. In case the nut is not even with the screw, you will have to first seal the edges using a temporary gasket that dries rapidly such that the adhesive remains in the hole.

Allow the adhesive to dry for the time suggested by the manufacturer. After it becomes firm, loosen the screw with the help of the appended nut using a socket wrench.

5. Rubberband Method

If you are skilled in the use of rubber band, position the rubber band over the screw’s head and apply immense pressure as you attempt to loosen the screw. The rubber can help create the additional grip necessary to loosen the screw. More about the rubberband method.

6. Fittingly Sized Flat Head Screwdriver Method

This method is very simple although it is only reliable if it’s a cross head screw and particularly Phillips. You can try to loosen the screw by using a fitting flat head screwdriver and applying as much pressure as possible. In most cases, a fitting flat-head screwdriver will have a lot of grip when used on a stripped screw. If this method is not effective, it can be combined with #5 (rubber band method).

7. Slightly Bigger Phillips Screw Driver Method

This is also a rather simple method. Utilize a Phillips driver that is relatively bigger compared to the hole and press it firmly and tilt the screwdriver slightly and twist. This is often effective for slightly stripped screws.

8. Welding Method

If you are skilled at welding, position a nut above the screw and weld them together alongside the inner side of the nut. You can then go ahead and unscrew as indicated in #4 using a socket wrench.

9. Needle-Nose Clamping Pliers Method

In case you had partially unscrewed the screw such that the screw top is out in the open, you can try using either needle-nose clamping pliers or non-clamping needle-nose pliers. Needle-nose clamping pliers are quite effective in this case.

10. Drill Head Off Method

This is a fairly risky method which requires a lot of caution as you have to take out the screw’s head by drilling. Cautiously drill without going too deep such that you can take out the portion you intend to remove. After successfully drilling the head off and taking out the drilled part, a sufficient portion of the screw will be out in the open given that you didn’t drill excessively. You can comfortably use a needle-nose clamping pliers to take out the screw’s shaft.

11. Hammer and Screw Driver Method

If you’re working on a relatively strong thing, you can attempt to strike your screwdriver into the screw using a hammer. Given that the screw metal was soft to the extent that it stripped, there is a high probability that you will strike the screwdriver effectively into the screw and attain the necessary firmness for unscrewing. Evidently, this method cannot be relied on in the case of a fragile object.

12. The Hammer Method

If all the above listed methods have failed to work for you, you may just have to destroy the entire screw using a hammer. Assume that it’s unfortunate that the object will suffer collateral damage!