Whether you forgot to drill a pilot hole or drove a screw too quickly, nothing puts a stop to your woodworking project faster than a screw with stripped head. Fortunately, there’s a smooth and efficient way to deal with this frustrating problem. All you need are a few tools and supplies, all of which are reasonably-priced and sold at any local home improvement or hardware store in your neighborhood.
Continue reading to review a basic guide to removing stripped screws from wood.
How to Manage a Stripped Screw Head
Tools and Supplies You Will Need:
✏ Drill
✏ Screw Extractor Set
✏ Long-Nose Locking Pliers
For Screw Heads Above Wood:
Clamp your locking pliers onto the screw, positioning them as close to the wood as possible.
Once you have a solid grip, use the pliers to gently turn the screw counterclockwise. Be gentle to avoid snapping off the screw head.
You can use a piece of cardboard to place around screw to prevent any accidental scratching.
For Screw Heads Level With or Below Wood:
For screw heads that are flush with the wood surface or slightly below, you will need to use your screw extractor set.
Using your drill, make a 1/8 inch deep hole in the top of the screw head. It should be large enough to accept the largest screw extractor that will fit the head.
Position the extractor into the hole you drilled, and then slowly turn it counterclockwise and press down until you feel the extractor threads catch.
Slowly turn the extractor to wind the screw out just enough to where you can grab it with your gripping pliers.
How to Prevent Stripped Screw Heads
☑ For screws 2 1/2 inches or longer, rub the heads with candle wax or beeswax to reduce friction.
☑ Do not forget to drill pilot holes for your screws.
☑ Choose a drill set that lets you drill pilot holes in multiple sizes to match your screws.
☑ Drill larger pilot holes for hardwoods to avoid splitting.
☑ Always choose the proper screws for your project.
When in Doubt or Over Your Head
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