How to Unscrew a screw with a broken head

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Screws are an integral part of our everyday lives, used in various applications such as furniture assembly, household repairs, and construction projects. However, it is not uncommon for screws to become damaged, especially their heads, which can lead to frustration and difficulty in unscrewing them. In this guide, we will explore effective techniques and tools to successfully remove a screw with a broken head, allowing you to complete your task without the need for professional assistance or expensive equipment. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or simply need to fix a loose screw, this step-by-step guide will empower you with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle this common household problem efficiently and effectively.

If the screwdriver is constantly slipping on the screw head, you need to increase the friction force or torque. You can increase the grip between the screwdriver and the screw by using everyday items. For really stuck screws, you need specialized tools, but most are quite inexpensive and very common.

Table of Contents

Steps

Using screwdrivers

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

• If screws are caught in metal, spray anti-rust oil like WD40 and wait for about 15 minutes. ^[1]
• Use the largest screwdriver that will fit the screw.
• If possible, use a wrench to clamp the screwdriver handle to increase torque.

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Use extra materials to increase grip. If the screwdriver keeps sliding off the screw head, cover the screw head with a piece of material to increase grip. Press the screwdriver over the piece of material and try again. Here are the options:

• Wide rubber band
• Steel wool pad
• Blue abrasive dishwashing sponge
• Cloth tape, with the adhesive side glued to the screw head

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Use a hammer to hit the screwdriver. Tap the screwdriver gently to avoid breaking the screw head. Skip this step if you are working with fragile objects.

• This is a good choice if the screw to open has a bake head.
• You can also use a square hole drill to drive into the screw head. Close until the drill bit penetrates the screw head.

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Press down firmly while twisting. Place your palm on the screwdriver handle with the arm directly behind. Using your entire forearm, press the screwdriver straight into the screw while turning.

• If the screwdriver slips, you must stop turning it immediately. Letting the screwdriver slide continuously will only cause the screw head to wear more and be more difficult to open. Make sure you are turning the screw in the correct direction, usually counter-clockwise (but not always). Pressing down firmly while turning the screwdriver will help prevent slipping.

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Heat the snail. If you can heat the screw without damaging the fastener, the thread will loosen. Use a heat gun or a propane torch to heat the snail, moving it constantly to avoid overheating. Once the snail is hot enough to evaporate a drop of water, you will wait for the snail to cool down and try again. ^[2]

• This method is very effective if the screw is already attached with adhesive.

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Use a grinder cutter or hacksaw to cut a groove in the screw head. If the screwdriver is still not firmly attached to the screw, cut a slot in the screw head. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the slot and unscrew the screw. ^[3] You can combine this method with any of the above methods.

Using a screwdriver

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Buy a screwdriver. A screwdriver is a hand tool that pushes the screwdriver head deeper into the screw by pressing and springing. This method is effective for solid structures, but can damage electronics or other fragile devices. If you’re afraid of damaging things, avoid using cheap screwdrivers with stiff springs, as they require strong hammering to work. ^[4]

• Electric screwdrivers should not be used as excessive force may damage the surrounding material.

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Set the screwdriver to the screw opening mode. Some models have a toggle switch. But with some other models, you have to rotate the handle to change the direction of rotation.

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Bring the screwdriver into position. Insert the screwdriver of the appropriate size into the machine. Insert the screwdriver head into the screw and hold the machine perpendicular to the surface of the screw. Hold the camera at the center point and keep your hands away from the rear of the camera.

• The screwdriver head used to attach to the screwdriver usually has a very high hardness to meet the job requirements. ^[5]

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Use a rubber hammer to knock on the back of the machine. Hit the back of the machine hard with a heavy rubber hammer. Use a rubber hammer to avoid scratching the screwdriver.

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Check the direction of rotation of the screwdriver. Some screwdrivers vibrate and slip out of place with each knock. ^[6] Reset the machine to “relaxed” mode if necessary.

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

Use a snail extractor

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Buy a snail remover. If the screw head is worn but still intact, you should use a screw extractor. It’s basically a screwdriver head made from super hard metal, with a reverse thread on the tip. This is one of the most suitable ways to remove a loose screw, but with caution. If the tool tip breaks in the screw, you will have to hire a mechanic to take care of the rest. To reduce this risk, you should choose a screw extractor that is no larger than 75% of the diameter of the screw body (not the head). ^[7]

• For Torx screws or keyhole screws with a protruding cylinder body, a multi-tooth extractor is recommended. This tool fits over the screw head, and is held in place by the teeth on the inside. Instead of following the instructions below, you’ll tap this screw extractor, then rotate it to remove the screw.

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Punch a hole in the center of the screw head. Place the tool in the center of the screw head. Hit the tip of the screwdriver with a hammer to create an indentation that guides the drill bit.

• Wear eye protection to avoid splashes of metal. Always wear eye protection while working.

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Drill a hole in the screw head. Use drill bits designed for hard metals. Screw extractors often have the drill bit size listed on the tool body. Drill slowly and steady the drill with pressure if possible. Start drilling a hole 3-6mm deep; Drilling too deeply can break the screw. ^[8] It’s better to start with a small drill to create a path for a larger drill.

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Use a copper hammer to drive the screw extractor into the screw. The super hard metal of the screw extractor is quite brittle, so a steel or iron hammer can break the tool. Close until the tool grips the hole just drilled.

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Carefully rotate the screw extractor. If the torque is too large or uneven, the tool may break and make the situation even more difficult. The safest way is to use a handle that fits snugly against the tip of the screwdriver to remove the tool and any screws stuck to it. Drilling inherently loosens the screw, so you can usually get it out without much force. ^[9]

• Some extractor kits are sold with a nut that fits onto the tip of the tool. Use two wrenches to tighten the nut to an angle of 180º to make the torque more balanced.

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Heat the snail if you can’t get it out. If the screw is not inflated or you are afraid the extractor will break, remove the extractor. Heat the screw, then put paraffin wax or water on the screw to lubricate the thread. Use a snail extractor to try again when the snail has cooled down. ^[10]

• Be careful not to damage the surrounding material. Whether you’re working with metal, it’s best to use a heat gun or torch when propane is used. Continuously move the burner around the snail to avoid burning in any position for more than a second. ^[11]

Other methods

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Attach the nut to the screw with epoxy glue. Find a nut that is the same diameter as the head. Glue them together with a two-component epoxy metal-to-metal adhesive. Wait for the glue to dry according to the instructions on the package, then use the wrench to open the nut.

• If you can’t find the right size nut, you can stick a smaller nut on top of the nut. But a small nut will not produce as much torque as a properly sized nut.

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Drill destroys the screw head. Destroying the screw head will usually release pressure on the body of the snail, making it easier to pull the screw out – but if that doesn’t work, you’ve given up all other options. Choose a drill bit that is slightly larger than the screw body, so the screw head will come apart completely when you drill through it. Begin to make a hole in the center of the screw, and carefully drill through this closed hole. ^[12] When the screw head is completely detached, clamp the screw body with dead pliers and rotate it counterclockwise.

• If the screw head is not flat, file or grind it with a grinder to create a flat surface. Then, punch a hole in the center and drill through it.

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Hire a worker. If all else fails, you must hire a mechanic to unscrew the screws using the spark machining system. ^[13] This is probably the best option if you’ve used a snail extractor before and it broke inside the snail.

Advice

• If you can reach the back of the fastener, see if the body of the screw goes through it. If the screw body pierces the object, use the screw clamp and screw it out from the back.
• Make sure you are turning the screws in the correct direction. The screw may have a reverse thread, in which case you must turn it clockwise to open it.
• The one-way screw can also be opened if needed. Search online for a one-way screw opener.
• If the hole is chipped after removing the screw, there are several ways you can fix it:
  • Punch a larger hole. To increase stiffness after punching, apply a loctite threadlocker to the hole and install the helicoil stud.
  • Screw a larger self-locking screw into the chipped hole.
  • Use bolts and nuts. If you need to connect two metal objects, weld the nut to the metal to create a threaded connection.

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Warning

• A chipped screw metal edge can cut your hand or cause the device to malfunction. You should use a file to round this metal edge.

Things you need

• Screwdrivers
• Snail extractor, screwdriver bit, or snail extractor kit
• Pipe key
• Drill
• Metal drill bit
• Eye protection
• Glove
• Hammer or rubber hammer
• Screwdriver
• Snail removal tool
• Pliers dead
• Cloth tape, rubber bands, steel wool, or abrasive cotton pads

If the screwdriver is constantly slipping on the screw head, you need to increase the friction force or torque. You can increase the grip between the screwdriver and the screw by using everyday items. For really stuck screws, you need specialized tools, but most are quite inexpensive and very common.

In conclusion, unscrewing a screw with a broken head may seem like a daunting task, but with the right techniques and tools, it is possible to remove it successfully. By first assessing the situation and determining the most appropriate method, such as using pliers, a rubber band, or a screw extractor, one can easily tackle this problem. It is important to exercise patience, caution, and precision during the process to avoid further damage to the surrounding area or the screw. Additionally, seeking expert help if needed can be beneficial, especially for stubborn or complex cases. With the tips provided in this guide, individuals can confidently approach the task of removing a screw with a broken head and achieve successful results.

Thank you for reading this post How to Unscrew a screw with a broken head at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.

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