5 Guaranteed Tricks to Remove Stuck Screws

[@CrowdPleeza]

How exactly does the last option work? Do you just drill into the screw until it breaks up? My stripped screw is inside the hole of my bathtub turn knob.

[@DianeAloia]

Thank you! Using Steps 2 and 3 allowed this little 68 year old woman to take terribly rusted screws out of the bottom of my old Rubbermaid shed so I could take the floor apart.

[@imclcinforzahorizon8951]

Way to go old Lady, Nicely Done 🤝👏👏👏👍✌️❤️

[@every1readthis]

I just came here to comment. I had a nightmare situation with a shower drain cover screw. One of two came off nicely the other was rusted out and stripped. It tested me and about 10 different tools, along with WD-40 the smell and headache lol. I was just about to give up and accept the loss, but one KZbin search first video this one and the tapping with a hammer ever so slightly with a flat head on what was originally a Philips, this was the solution to the problem. Thank you sincerely The Craftsman Blog. It works folks, hit the like button so others can benefit as well with algorithms. 😅

[@daniellemcandrews2077]

This is literally exactly why I’m here!!!

[@TheFanaticsGoat]

same reason 🤣

[@Tititoysanddolls18]

Same respn

[@richardgray131185]

I've had great success using a screw extractor to remove tiny screws from metal surfaces. Having said that, I do have far more patience than most and a 'never give up' attitude - something you will probably need if you decide to use a screw extractor! Getting the smallest screws out can take hours!

[@stephanieblock6087]

Aghhh yes thank you! Super old flat head screws in very old kitchen cabinets and I couldn’t get them out to save my life. Google sent me to you… I took off all the paint, that didn’t work alone, so I sprayed with WD-40 and that alone didn’t work, I also tried tapping the flat head screw driver in before I added the WD-40 and that didn’t work alone. But after I added the WD-40 and tapped the screw driver, wala it worked! I am so happy!! Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge

[@cozdinho911]

Thank you, I’m a college student renting and I had to replace the door stopper on the front door, 2 screws on the old bracket just won’t give so i’ll give these a shot! First thought was wd-40 but i’ll give the hammer a go as well!!

[@peterim1863]

Thank you. I have watched so many videos with numerous tricks. None have worked until watching this video. For me a bit of lubricant and the hammer method did the trick after 3 days of trying to get a stuck, stripped, acient screw out of an irreplaceable cupbaord door.

[@thelmasbar]

I had to use my Dremel to clear the groove on the screw top! Idk what kind of concrete-type paint had filled it in but it wouldn't budge before I dremel'ed it out!

[@ShadowzGSD]

also try tightening the screw a bit to break the bond and then undo (save killing the head when undoing) and step 6 - world war 3 option is burn the wood and remove screw from ashes (screw removed in one piece)

[@STEINYY]

What if it’s in a really bad area where there aint enough room to work. My situation is the front grill of a car where I can’t get in and remove this old as screw:/

[@LindsAyWithAttitude]

Thanks for actually using good music. I feel like that made this video so much better. 😊

[@catalinawoody6954]

I have a weakness in my hand and come across screws all the time I have a hard time unscrewing. This video was so helpful, thank you so much!

[@fmalina8155]

Great tips, I'll try the lube and tapping next time. BTW I also learned today I can just stand a ladder right against a flat wall for storage, no need to lean it

[@rebecapotasnik9012]

I was ready for the nuclear option, having tried everything else (except the screw extractor tool). My situation is a little tricky as the stuck screw is in the sash lock so very close to the pane of glass. My friend suggested I try one more thing before drilling out the screw-gentle prying of the sash lock to provide another way to loosen the screw. It worked! I was finally able to unscrew it.

[@peterbarlow8912]

Use a regular screwdriver. I have found hitting a six in one driver damages them. One the handle split in half! Another one the the insert became permanently jammed. Use the corner of your straight blade and hit the side of the point. I’ve had to remove many heavily painted wooden storm window hooks off casings.

[@lindafelipe9062]

You saved our butts, we had an old bed frame and we had a tough screw and your tips were perfect, Thank-you

[@ellicerslavic]

The hammer and screwdriver technique (I used Phillips head as couldn't find anything else) finally got out a dodgy window handle we've only just worried about this year with the dropping temperature! Thank you!! I didn't even use a hammer but a heavy wrench haha

[@bxlawless100]

I’m impressed. The hammer trick worked fantastic.

[@timtim4603]

Yes brilliant, solved a problem of rusted screws in outside electrical box, thank you soo much

[@TDuD3]

If I want to apply new screws into the same holes with rust in them, is a good idea an this will not affect the new screws ore is there a step to do before installing the new screws?

[@chrislrob]

Thanks for this! Earlier today I was in my basement cursing a blue streak at a single screw lodged in a 100-year-old beam that was ruining my life! And it was in a tight spot. You inspired me to give my screwdriver a few whacks and I was able to get it out. Great vid!

[@OldOzRider]

Thanks for the tips!! You saved me! The ol' 'Tap and Go' worked a treat.

[@exchequerguy4037]

Thanks :) I got my sundeck screw out by removing the top plank, hammering small holes around it, and using locking pliers, at the tightest grip possible, around the screwhead.

[@leeb.7188]

I purchased a rental unit, which has about 50 years of “deferred maintenance” (i.e., it’s a dump). Someone had placed exterior weatherstripping, with a metal band and heavy rubber insulation, all around the bedroom door. And then painted over it with five different colors over the years, lol. It was attached with 25 small screws, with an odd bit head that I’ve never seen before. I couldn’t get them to budge. After watching this video, I tried pounding them with a hammer and heavy duty Phillip’s head screwdriver. That got 20 of them out. (Note that I first used a ratcheting screwdriver that I put a bit in, and that didn’t work, so I switched to a solid shank screwdriver.) The remaining five screws had been over-tightened and driven so far into the metal that the hammer method didn’t work. I purchased a damaged screw removal kit from Amazon, as well as Engineer brand screw extractor pliers, model PZ-58 for $18. These pliers are made in Japan and are expressly made to grip stuck screws. They come in different sizes but this model works for average size screws. Anyway, due to the unique design, I was able to remove the remaining screws. Note that the Vampire brand is made by the same company, but they’re red, have a cute name, and are marketed to Americans. They also cost more. The Engineer brand come in a package with Japanese writing and are plain forest green. But the function is the same. I’m just passing this along for anyone who is at wit’s end with stuck, damaged screws. I’m glad I didn’t open the screw extraction kit and am returning it for a refund. Between the hammer method and the Japanese pliers, I got all of the screws out this evening in about an hour.

[@CaseyPlants]

Since I’m not using the same holes I’m going straight for the drill out. Thanks for this

[@nestor8369]

Much easier way to remove paint off old screws is a thumbtack just gotta look for the line on the screw then cut the paint off after that you can use your flat head screwdriver to remove the screws instead of destroying them.....

[@Dennis_Parkes]

I remove paint on and around screwhead with a dab of paintstripper. Has worked everytime for me so far.

[@thelmasbar]

sometimes you just have to say goodbye to a few old screws.

[@MichaelOConnor-g5s]

Thank you, thank you! The WD40+hammer approaches worked to loosen screws in some storm windows that I thought were glued in permanently.

[@kkrause2299]

Thank u. Used the hammer with screwdriver and the wd-40 and worked very well.

[@confloashton3617]

I've got a screw that is designed to be turned by hand, having ridges around the edges of the head. And that is stuck, do you have a suggestion for that?

[@abutterfly7975]

Tried everything nothing worked, but then I tried the lubricant hammering the screwdriver and turning it as I went, and it finally got those stripped screws out. Hallelujah thank you good man.

[@orellinvvardengra6775]

Probably gonna have to use the hammer tapping trick on this old craftsman router table my friend gave me. According to him it's been sitting in a bucket full of water and it looks like it. The screws attaching the router to the table are incredibly rusty and I've had a penetrating oil sitting on them for a couple days now. I just really don't want to strip these things out, it would be an amazing tool if it was up and running; the thing is older than I am.

[@cynthiacope6815]

Hello, Im trying to fix my leaky kitchen faucet. My allen wrench fits perfectly but i can't turn the screw, it stuck. Help, I i appreciate your assistance. Im determined to do this myself. Thank you.

[@anthonycantu8879]

Tried the wd40 approach, first, and that prompted me look for another method. That led me here. I didn't want to tap/pound on my screwdriver while turning it, so I took a more direct course. I tapped on the screwhead itself. Between the spray and the tapping, I easily removed the screws. Thanks. 👍

[@morettino2083]

Thank you - I was going to buy a screw extractor but then I saw your video and I used trick 2 and 3. It worked 🙂

[@nieceypiecey100]

This video was a lifesaver! I was ready to pull my hair out! ❤

[@jeancox8768]

Thank you for showing the WD-40 option. The screws in the kitchen cabinet doors have years of gunk, and I didn't try WD-40 because I thought it would just make them slippery. Someone is cooking in the kitchen now, so I'll try it after dinner.

[@NaketaKiara]

Your video saved the day!!! Thank you so much.

[@karryjohnson3261]

I have a screw that is stuck in wood plastic. I was trying to fix a hole that I needed to drill and put the screw in thinking that it cured. Any tip or recommendations on tools to use to remove the screw?

[@halcyon2017]

Thank you so much for these tips! Using the hammer and screwdriver worked beautifully!

[@jesalyncarnley5434]

How do you remove the rest of the screw after drilling off the head? I'm about to drill this one off since literally everything else hasn't worked but I need to put a screw back in the exact same spot and won't be able to if the screw is still in the hole.

[@susanamundson6390]

This worked!! I had to go to tapping with the hammer while turning the screw. Voilla! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@samanthal2926]

Tapping the screwdriver with a hammer worked for my crusted (calcium build up) shower drain screws! Thank you for saving me even more frustration!

[@cricketinwilton]

The two heavy-duty screws are deep into drywall and aren't budging. I tried all your solutions but none worked....I'll keep searching for a way. I may try a bolt cutter.

[@Ashley-id2cb]

You just helped me not loose my mind! Got my screw out successfully with the hammer trick! Thank you!

[@yiliao123]

I tried to replace strike plate from a wood door frame. But I have trouble to remove the stuck screws. I tried WD-40 and hammer. None of them worked for me so far.

[@tokkihere]

OMG you saved my life thank you so much!! I had been trying to get a tight screw out something I assembled a few months ago but wanted to remove a part of it and there was one screw that just DID NOT want to come out!! I was about to lose my mind, id even tried to get it out with a drill even though I had hand tightened it when assembling it and it STILL was not budging!! Finally then I watched your video and when back to the hand method before and tapped it with a hammer while turning it and it INSTANTLY loosened up. I don't think I've ever been so mad and so relieved at the same time haha 😂

[@rvatto7144]

Screw extractor worked for me. The trick is use a small drill bit to drill in pilot hole the just the extractor on a rahet and unscrew slowly

[@stanmerrill3090]

The hammer trick really worked!

[@EgressFromStress]

Bro, if it wasn’t for you I would have got my corroded Screw for my pool pump loose. Thank you soooo much for this video!!

[@tryingcake101]

Nothing is working. I'm at my wits end. I have to remove a shower handle. I even went out and bought the extractor (GrabIt). I may as well have been spitting in the wind. What do you do when nothing is working? I don't want to damage the pipes the handle is attached to.

[@235-z7t]

Same exact issue. Did you find a solution since you posted this? If so please share

[@aquarianhealer]

Had 4 badly rusted screw heads that just crumbled when I tried to unscrew them. I soaked each one with WD-40 and used a drill on 1st one which was an epic fail. Used hammer and philips head screwdriver and other 3 came out with ease. Thank you.

[@WexWorld]

Are you using reverse in No 5? The nuclear option

[@victoriaviars3554]

How can I remove deep in beaded screws. They are deep inside fan.😢

[@kiransri1515]

Thanks a lot. Worked very well. Appreciate your help for novice like me

[@NicBewley]

huge! so helpful!

[@72PSI]

Thank you for sharing.

[@marque235]

Any suggestions on removing stuck plastic shelf pegs in cabinets when there’s nothing to grasp in order to pull it out?

[@virgforsberg2754]

DrI’ll small hole, coat screw aprox same size as hole with super glue and extract

[@jerriegall]

I screwed a tiny screw inside mine then used a screwdriver and both came out.

[@GregJohnson-t6d]

Lubricant and hammer method also worked great for me.

[@michaeltyers7336]

Screw extractors are really only useful when the head of the screw has been stripped. But even then they're pretty useless because you're likely to sheer the head off. Ask me how I know.

[@mackvaclaw7048]

I tried to use a screw extractor after trying everything else and it still didn’t work so I just gave up. After using the drill extractor, you take away your only hope left when you destroy the top of the screw, so definitely try it last

[@tombusshart3971]

I wonder if a screw extractor would work if it was used on a screw gun ( because of the impacting )

[@68868s]

The screw is soooo shallow and hard to get at. What do you do then?

[@joshbrekke6374]

Try seized in 3” square drive deck screws through Trex decking where the pilot hole through the trex was 1/64” then the almost 1/4” diameter deck screws were powered/forced home. 350 of them so far and about another 750 to go, argggg! They have been in there since 2008

[@webstermyra7194]

Hammer just worked cheers

[@brucemartini2288]

Doing deck rebuild- found rubbing alcohol lubricates the wood for screw removal

[@jonskitch8082]

Screw extraction pliers?

[@sadierockins9290]

Bless you for that simple hammer trick.

[@TamaraReneeSpeaks]

Step #3 did the trick!!

[@chungusmychungus]

Thank you!!

[@AprilYChang]

Screw extractors didn't work for us either, our case is that the broken screw head is pointy, couldn't even make a dent with the drill for the step 2 per the extractor's instruction. So, we have been considering the "drill it out" method though not sure if it might work. Stumbling across your youtube here, now I'm more confident to try your #5 (drill it out) idea. I hope it will work for us as well :) Thanks for sharing!

[@CrowdPleeza]

Did you try that last option for drilling out the screw? How did you do it? Do you just drill into the screw until it breaks up?

[@puppersissage8640]

Im tryibg to remoce the screw off my bathroom skale but it has no bridges

[@Joe-nd6rf]

Thanks, you Save me a bunch with a nuclear method. Thank you very much.

[@CrowdPleeza]

Did you try that last option for drilling out the screw? How did you do it? Do you just drill into the screw until it breaks up?

[@yokosh1802]

i got problem to remove screw from my car head lamp...its totally stuck, perhaps because of the heat, already tried to give heater but failed...anyone knows how to deal screw stuck because of the heat?

[@blabbergasted4380]

Nice. Thanks!

[@I3HrN]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@andystone8917]

Thanks mate, I didn't think I was going to get my old gate latch off but you made it possible!

[@BrigitteGeorge-gk4qx]

I can’t get the handle off a casserole pot lid that is loose to clean and replace.

[@Tititoysanddolls18]

OK, so I tried a different screwdriver, but it’s not still not working and my on my you know the pizza planet space crane the lights turned on, but my claw is kind of like broken so I think I’m gonna try to get the better take out the screw and see if the batteries are dead

[@drewgrows7765]

You saved me. The WD40 worked on all but one. I hit the screwdriver with a hammer and got it.

[@underscorewill]

very good

[@amjmmint4786]

Something like a screw extractor would work much better in a fixed position in a drill press. The added torque to drive the biting connection isn't really conducive to a hand operation as you'll be prying out the locking bite without a static vector of leverage. Are they used in the way you showed in this video, hammering in place and...yea packaging says so. If you're having to use this, try to find a tap n die handle for a more even distribution of force, the packaging does you a bit of disservice. Pilot the hole, skip the hammer, and bear down on it with the tap handle. This of course if you don't have access to a low-gear on a fixed mandrel.

[@TonyFisherPuzzles]

Why would you need more than one guaranteed trick?

[@peppermintpatty14]

THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION! It took me a couple hours for two nights to get six screws removed with your hammer/screwdriver method. Much appreciated!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Awesome!

[@tgnm9615]

The screw on my door got the landlord specialed. Painted over the hinge and screw so the scree stuck

[@WhattAreYouSaying]

Doesn't work for me. I have an antique rifle from World war 1 with a screw that's really stuck hard. It has also rusted badly. I have tried almost everything in this video and a lot off other different methods and nothing works..Since the rifle is an antique and therefore has a value, drilling out the screw is not an option. It's a screw with a flat head. I need to remove that screw to take the rifle apart and clean it properly. But I have tried for several days now, I think I just give up.

[@hiddenhope7569]

Nice jab, mike tyson would be proud 👏 😁

[@Kur4zy]

Thanks

[@NYMArts]

I can cut glass and deglaze and reglaze old windows....seems Very Familiar to me :o)

[@sab_1055]

Thanks! WD-40 was Step 1. I'm avoiding nuclear warfare. It's my landlord's moldy window ac & I'm not spending much more time on it, but they're elderly and I've got a soft spot for them. I tried wiggling the housing, but not tapping. It works for stuck watch backs so that's next and last. I'll put it back together and tell them the truth. The thing is making me sick & I need a new unit.

[@peppermintpatty14]

THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION! I worked on these a couple hours a night and FINALLY got six screws removed with your hammer pounding/screwdriver method. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@jpnelson7606]

OK, I was totally screwed (pun intended)... I had a barbecue that needed overhauling, and one damn screw was about to cost me a TON of money in replacing the entire internal guts. Your tricks got the screw loose and I was able to swap out a $40 part instead of a $200 assembly. Do I owe you $160? Sort of feels like it.

[@joe112000]

Dig the shirt 👕

[@mike_98058]

Ha! Here's a real challenge: My wood deck is 30 years old,screws hold the boards down. Now some boards need to be replaced, but the screws are badly rusted (perhaps due to the wood treatment). The top of the screw breaks at about 1/2" into the plank. The portion of the screw remaining in the wood still holds down the planks. Removal of screw is extremely difficult. Once removed, I still have 1" of screw sticking out of the substructure which needs to be cut flush so that the replacment board will sit flat.

[@angelaocasio]

Same thing here! Did you ever figure out what to do? I’m at my wits end with this project. I’ve literally tried everything and Nothing works. Plus I have other screws going into boards that I have no idea where they came from. I can only see the end of them. So frustrated with this house.

[@jerriegall]

Same predicament

[@nathanproductions5817]

Thank you for trick 2 I had to loose a screw on my vacuum because it was broken

[@mamadonna3959]

What about when the head is broken off

[@komoru]

The lubricant trick works great....if your screw is not upside down!

[@tracyknox8703]

The window is NOT a sash. Sashes fit into a frame with parting stops . This hinged window is called a flanker.

[@alijaveed9350]

screw tap worked!! screws in a child safety screen. more than a decade old!

[@rebeccacisco9420]

What if it is in the back of a garbage disposal in a very tight area to work in and the person put it in likely with a drill bit before installing. I need to replace the drain pipe. I am a girl without all the strength of mens' hands. The drill won't fit in the area I am working in. Pulling my hair out over it.

[@bobbrock41]

The lube trick won't work if the screw is driven in horizontally (eg through a metal plate on a very large gate for a driveway). In fact I don't think any of the above tips work in that situation.