How to remove a snapped screw from wood

Screws can often snap or shear when tightening or undoing them in wood, this video shows how to removed the snapped screw and re-plug the holes using dowels to create a quick and permanent repair. Some screws are more prone to shearing or snapping than others, decking screws for example often shear as soon as you attempt to undo them.
These videos might also be of some use-
Hinge drills- • hinge drills
JCB Diamond Tech hole saws- • JCB diamond Tech hole ...

[@KenFullman]

Little tip. Those diamond tipped hole saws are NOT directional. So if you set your drill to anti clockwise (undo) the hole saw will still function exactly the same, but often it will catch on the screw and the screw will actually unscrew itself before you've drilled deep enough to need a dowel.

[@aries6776]

Great tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@realstonecan]

You are right, I've using this technique to remove salt water corroded brass screws from hard wood. In most cases, most of the screw comes out with just a little drilling.

[@jossfitzsimons]

Very good method. A rubber Puff ball with nozzle would help greatly with the sawdust & burning problem.

[@Patrik6920]

...and, well depending how rich u are... ..using diomond tipped tools for wood is usually a very bad idea... diominds r a carbon material, wood contains very much carbon, and wear down diomond tools quite fast, the higher speed the more wear... u hit litterally hit carbon with carbon,, a steel or carbide is much better for wood, it will not only be more effective, it will save some money too ...diomind r not very suitable for materials containing high ammounts of carbon ...it wears down quite fast, .. for stone its perfect and last almost forever... (unless ur unlycky...stone can have carbone also)

[@Patrik6920]

@@Tekagi ...depending on drillbit, it may not matter alot ... what matter most is transporting grinded material fast enugh from the cutting surface.... wich this kind of drillbit does a poor job at for wood... edit: diomond cutting edges r of two types, natural diomond and artificial diomonds, natural diomonds r usually more expensive, and (most) manufactured diomonds have one lattice direction thay are stronger in, and one transverse direction thay fracture easily in, depending how the tool is made.. the angle a surface is worked can matter alot (always sheck how the tool was made and for what angle), natural diomonds dont have the same problem.ö ...and if its a boron-nitride-diomond it wont matter much... thay will curt anything like butter... at a cost ofc... tools can be alot more expensive than diomond...

[@Matt-kl1pg]

It'd never occurred to me to use a hole saw to help remove screws. What a simple yet brilliant solution 👍

[@harryl7946]

Exactly what I was thinking too! 😂 Never occurred to me.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks Matt 👍

[@skwalka6372]

Same here, this was one of the most useful videos I ever watched!

[@DaleMarriott1337]

to be fair i thought this video wasn't that good at fist i thought what a rubbish idea to remove a screw. but once you see the dowels go in it all makes sense.

[@IamVince1aa]

Short piece of brake line with a few small slits will work also

[@RogerM9]

This "old dog" has just learned a new trick. Something new every day. Brilliant. Thanks for posting!

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mlaiuppa]

This is exactly the video I needed. I snapped three screws from a vintage armoire cedar chest and stopped until I could figure out how to fix it. Now that I know, I can continue to restore it. Thanks so much for this and for all the comments below with more helpful hints.

[@mlaiuppa]

Oh, and before all of the geniuses on this post start jumping on me, I was doing it by hand, not using a drill. I even tapped them lightly with a hammer to loosen them a bit before I took them out but they snapped any way. 70+ years old. Thanks to this video I now have a method to repair my armoire. So thank you, Ultimate Handyman. I'll be subscribing as you have solved my problem. And no, I won't be using cheap screws when I reassemble my armoire.

[@thejoneseys]

Must admit I've used dowels to repair door frames where the doors were falling off but never had to remove a snapped off screw (yet) that's an awesome solution 👌🏻

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@Itsme-vo4fx]

Which direction does the drill bit turn, forward or reverse? I would think that using the drill in the forward direction would only push the broken screw further down.

[@aznative_]

@@Itsme-vo4fx you're not thinking very clearly. Using that type of drill that's not spiraled going either direction does the exact same thing it doesn't push it in or force it out. It just spins. The reason a drill bit goes in when you're going forward and goes out when you're going in reverse is the spirals. This doesn't have that concept. They also have left-handed drill bits that go in when your drill is in reverse that would absolutely blow your mind.

[@carsten4594]

​@@Itsme-vo4fxThe "drill" is actually a hole saw. Doesn't even touch the screw. 😊

[@phonotd]

Great video with a no nonsense delivery and approach to the job on hand.

[@ogstopper]

Lancastrians - finest, no-nonsense people in the country!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks Thomas 👍

[@villa50bis]

Love it! Have obviously repaired holes with glued in wood before, but the use of the tile diamond drill to get a whole screw thread out was a new one on me. Subscribed.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment and sub 👍

[@cajunfid]

If you don't want to tear out the wood when you're drilling for the dowel you can start the drill in reverse to minimise the amount of tearout and then flip it back to forward once you go down about a millimeter.

[@GentlemanH]

Thanks for that tip. 🙂

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

Diamond drills are not directional so having the drill in reverse would mak no difference. The method he used not only stops the drill wandering it also stops the tear out.

[@babbittdawabbitt3716]

@@thechumpsbeendumped.7797 he’s talking about the twist bit.

[@kenwalker5384]

I've had my mother's bentwood rocking chair awaiting this video for about ten years. one of the arms broke off leaving a stub from a hidden screw in the frame, which has defeated all previous attempts to remove it. I just know victory is in sight now!

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@andrebauer576]

For larger screws I use some stainless steel pipe from hydraulic appliances, used in shipbuilding for example. This pipe has an outer diameter of about 12 mm and I file some teeth to the end. Sharpening can be redone quite fast and is probably a lot cheaper than a diamond drill pipe. You may include that in an update video if you like.

[@charlesingram9471]

Or you can just get yourself a 7mm HSS holesaw lol

[@acer1705]

Brilliant tip mate, the amount of times I’ve lost the plot on site when I’ve snapped a screw is unreal, I’m so happy now I know this, cheers mate

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@larryscott890]

It’s possible that the screw head snapped off during removal because the wood was oak or similar and not pre drilled. With power impact drills you can drive screws into almost anything. When doing this you may get the screw in or almost in with screw head maybe on an angle as it will follow the path of least resistance in the wood. Pre drilling insures that the goes in straight and will come out. The drill size used should allow the hole to capture the threads of the screw and not the screw shaft.

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@kenibnanak5554]

If you are building a large deck with screws with a 100+ boards, it is kind of rare to be willing to spend or waste an extra day pre-drilling screw holes. What customer would pay for that extra project time? Sometimes I have deck screw heads snap off during insertion, but simple pliers are usually enough to remove them and try again. Deck screws are deliberately made out of soft material with weak necks. The most common failure I see is when once straight boards begin to warp after a few seasons and the screw fails and the head pops off as the board bends. Previously, snipping off the bottom and redrilling alongside was the easiest fix beyond simply replacing the deck board.. I will look into this video's method.

[@paulkolodner2445]

Here's an argument for using screw wax. It reduces the friction when you drive in a screw.

[@richardm7004]

Indeed. I watched a so-called tradesman/joiner doing this, trying to drive and snapping three screws in a row, whilst hanging a door into an Ironbark (Australian eucalypt - Eucalyptus sieberi) frame. I always pre-drill and use beeswax to lubricate.

[@garypautard1069]

Yes I agree I see DIYers using impact drivers for almost every job going but they are often too powerful and I think myself , only suitable for wood to wood applications.

[@ehRalph]

Good demo! For a longer screws, I use a larger hole saw (or a plug cutter) and only go deep enough to access the screw. Then chisel material enough to attach a small vice grip plier to the screw. Not sure but lubricant may help if the wood is very stubborn. I had to do this in a white oak burl knot. Made the plug from similar material and it’s almost invisible.

[@thinkfirst6431]

Put a small grove in the side of the dowel. Put glue in the hole and on the side of the dowel then pound it in. The excess glue in the hole will flow out the grove giving you glue over all of the dowel even in the bottom of the hole where the dowel is rounded. Without the grove the glue in the hole will prevent the dowel from bottoming in the hole.

[@martincrabtree6704]

If you look at the dowels they've already got grooves in them.

[@davidwhite5845]

I've seen excess glue split the wood because it had no way to get out.Good tip.This is why commercially made dowels have grooves.

[@joelmcclellan1050]

I believe he had fluted dowels.

[@rango_unchained]

Put like a small orange grove in the side of the dowel? If you could actually do that it would be groovy.

[@redwood_shores]

​@@martincrabtree6704That's not enough, unfortunately.

[@sih9696]

Wow! Really a very smart idea! Never thought that could be fixed! Thanks for sharing!

[@5280ryan]

Nice...I've never seen anyone do that in 20 years but it's a good move in the right situation.....definitely will remember this one. Thanks

[@daves4026]

Top draw skills as always thank you for sharing

[@josephking6515]

Neat trick, *Thank You!* 👍👍 Now I have to get one of those hole saws.

[@uktony1525]

Really, really useful tip, thank you.

[@Brian-hf2bp]

Outstanding, no nonsense thorough professional job...

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks Brian 👍

[@westonsunset]

Thought you might like this kudos... Just watched Roger Bisbeys' channel asking PlumberParts guy: "Who was the first to offer advice online?" And they both said you! .. and thank you for replying to my queries over the years x

[@ultimatehandyman]

That’s great to hear. I don’t watch other DIY related videos, but I do know them both (not personally though) 👍

[@samrodian919]

That a neat way of getting the screws out, normally I don't like to screw into end grain, as an apprentice church organ builder in the early seventies using traditional mild steel Nettlefold type wood screws, fixing those into endgrain was a total no no. But with modern screws with very thin sharp threads, they go in and hold pretty well so I suppose it's acceptable to do it although I might well use a screw that is at least 3/4-1" longer to get a hold in the parent wood. Especially if this was on a heavy door type of repair

[@TheBlueScarecrow]

Very Informative. I will definitely add this to my collection of tricks. Thank you!!!

[@andymartin86]

Thanks for the video. I have some broken screws in my lever on rose door handles where the fitter hadn’t used the bolt through fixings and instead just used the thin screws to hold, which subsequently snap over time.

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@obi-wankenobi8043]

This has happened to me on a couple of occasions but lucky the other end of the shaft of the screw was sticking out so I just gripped with a pair of pliers and twisted it out but saying that now I know how to do it if it doesn't ! Thank you mate best wishes Alexander . 😁 😂 👍 👍

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks Alexander 👍

[@puffyd58]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@adad-nerari4117]

Very smart method ! Thank you for sharing it .

[@gillgetter3004]

I drilled out lots of broken screws usually in oak door jambs old ones. I just drilled around broke screw with small bit, then screwdriver to dig screw out. Then drilled hole for dowel, never saw those diamond hole saws. GREAT JOB

[@ASelman]

I enjoyed this video and this is a significnat problem in old wooden boats with hundereds of screws on planks , corrosion and swollen old wood. One solution that I have used with great success and you could try is a modified version of this using small hole saws or steel tube with teeth filed for reverse cut adna split in the tube. Use a tube slightly smaller diameter ant it cuts down the screw shank, splays and grabs the screw, then unscrews it once the grip overcomes the grab of the remaining screw. Home made cutters only do a few as teeth are not hardened and get more splayed, but works a treat. There was a place in the USA that made some bits for this, but I have lost their contact and they were very expensive to but from the UK, but they can be made with some ingenuity if you have lots to do.

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@BigStew007]

Wow, another brilliant video. Thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@LiamEserda]

Yes, brilliant method! Thanks for sharing.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@AlexeiTetenov]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lansx42]

Very useful tips .. Thanks so much

[@abhishekmallik1194]

What a coincidence!! I also use the same method. This method is useful for broken nails also. Good job 👍

[@Kwokalot]

Great idea! Ordering a mini hole saw as we speak. Thanks.

[@ultimatehandyman]

They are so useful 👍 Thanks for the comment 👍

[@stuartwhelan3258]

Great idea and a perfect solution. Cheers for that.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍

[@clippy3656]

Thanks for this tip, that’s what I need for my project!

[@Chlorate299]

Saving that one for a rainy day, excellent tip!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@wolfffiedler8424]

Very informative video for a new homeowner that just found out that my backdoor has 3 snapped screws in the doorframe!

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mikejames663]

Fair play, excellent technique and demonstration.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Many thanks!

[@pritchsj]

When putting new screws in, drilling a pilot hole first can help prevent shearing screws heads. I find this is especially needed when buying fitting that come screws (cheap ones where function comes 2nd to their shiny looks), screwing in long screws, and screwing into hard wood. Sometimes giving old screws a quick tap with a hammer using an old screw bit can also help reduce head shearing. Thanks for the tip on using a diamond bit, didn’t know they existed so I’ve always used a large drill, guide hole, patience and hope.

[@wallacegrommet9343]

There are special self-centering, spring loaded drill bits that work with hinges to drill a perfectly sized bore. Originally from Vix, now every tool company makes them. He used one here.

[@PBandJsandwich]

I'm jealous of that clamp -- it's a beauty.

[@micky7028]

Very useful tip thank you as a plumber im always coming up against these sort of problems great way of getting broken head s out

[@kuldilakh7106]

Gr8 Job, now I will use the same Technique.! ❤

[@mindfireart7843]

Man that was amazing and super simple to do. Thanks man!!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Glad it helped! 👍

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

This was where my head was going, but I couldn't find a hollow coring bit that small. "Use a diamond bit." Of course! And I happen to have a set stashed away somewhere. Thanks, man. You really saved my day.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Great to hear! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@NeillWylie]

Thanks for this.

[@coptotermes]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@markmiller6402]

Nice work mate👍

[@RDSZ]

Awesome job.

[@jaygold4467]

Excellent video.

[@stephenwagener349]

The perfect video to help me rescue victory from the jaws of defeat - thank you Sir

[@radishpea6615]

Not seen that sort of hole saw before, good to know, thanks

[@ricklowell]

Great tip. Worked like a champ. Thanks for sharing

[@ultimatehandyman]

Great to hear!

[@mattikaki]

Really good idea. Thanx a lot!

[@lazylad8544]

Wooden window frames was murder for this year's ago. Good demo. Thanks for the video 👍. Have a nice Sunday (whilst some of us are working).

[@ultimatehandyman]

Sorry I did not reply on Sunday, This video was uploaded last week and was scheduled. I was in hospital, having had another heart attack, so I could not easily reply. I’m home now, so can reply. I have had another stent fitted and I’m absolutely fine 👍 Nobody on KZbin knows apart from you, unless they read this comment 😉

[@lazylad8544]

@@ultimatehandyman hope you get well soon pal. You must be liking that hospital food by now😉

[@ultimatehandyman]

@@lazylad8544 I'm good thanks- just like last time! Ironically the food used to be excellent in Blackburn Royal, but it was not as good this time 😉

[@drpeemac]

Thanks for teaching ...

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment 👍

[@derekbedaysee3741]

My morning coffee is getting cold watching this well done my friend...great channel.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo]

Very cool, something I never considered. I’ve never broken one off in a fixed hole hinge like this, but have many times when screwing in bookcase shelves (hard red oak) and could only plug the holes and move over an inch or so. Great idea, I’ll have to find one of these small hole saws which I’ve never seen before. All my hole saws are much larger, at least 1”. Thanks again! 😳

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@peterloichtl4512]

Tile hole saw u get it in tile tool section.

[@matthewwitherford]

Just used the method of gluing in the dowels and cutting it flush to refit my kitchen cupboard door, never thought of doing it this way cheers chez!

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm glad the video helped Thanks for the comment 👍

[@slypig24]

What a great idea, You have just created a need for small tungsten carbide hole saw, that has wood cutting tooth profile.

[@myobs]

I’ve never heard of a hinge drill or a diamond hole saw so thanks for enlightening me........and for the useful video. Best wishes.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@spettro9]

Very nice. Thank you

[@schecterman9191]

After seeing this I bought a set of these hole saws because I had a broken screw in the heel of a guitar neck, it worked a treat. Many thanks for your help 👍

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm glad the video helped Thanks for the comment 👍

[@paulhammond7489]

Brilliant solution... Thanks for sharing :)

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome, Paul Thanks for the comment 👍

[@bobvandermeer1642]

Great Idea very good tip thanks

[@MikeyMack303]

Nice job! Thanks.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@paulb2094]

Awesome video. Nice to know there is a solution. Thanks for sharing.

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@paulbudford]

Very clever solution

[@leighwilson5646]

very good technick

[@cherrybrandy269]

What a terrific job. Like others have already said, I've been waiting for this video for a very long time.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mjm7187]

Nicely done

[@SaintBigAl]

that's a really bright idea.thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

Glad you like it! 👍

[@johncourtneidge]

Very nice, thank-you!

[@raydriver7300]

That was interesting and I thank you for sharing. I’ve got a couple of clamps just like the ones you used 🌞

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@jonnno100]

Nice tip, I'll have to add one of thos bits (and the hinge centering bit) to my toolbox.

[@ultimatehandyman]

They are brilliant 👍

[@grahamcrooks3581]

If diamond drills are not your thing, you can use a "Roll-Pin". These are hardened steel hollow tube pins used for engineering location dowells, hinges and the like. You'll need to cut a tooth shape into one end of the roll pin which you can easily do with a diamond cut'off wheel. As the writer below says, best to cut the tooth for anticlockwise cutting, as often times it will pick up the screw remnant and withdraw it for you.

[@oscarbear1043]

Roll pins are spring steel and they would make a decent wood cutter.

[@spicemasterii6775]

Brilliant, mate!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍

[@spenny6222]

Gives me a great idea of how to remove an old dado rail from my lounge walls. Worried about screws snapping and plaster breaking off. This method should make it much easier. 👍

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@hphillips7425]

Nice work 👍🏻

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍

[@lesblack413]

The process is called trepanning. Used by engineers often with hardened studs that have been snapped. Great idea. Never used it in woodwork yet. thanks for reminding me!!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@kooldoozer]

Trepanning was first developed by surgeons to cut a hole in a skull for brain surgery. The left over center piece is generally put back in the hole in the skull to heal over. That is why this process was invented. -Doozer

[@jeffeloso]

I have seen this done with spark erosion kit, when the item with the broken stud was very large and hugely expensive and possibly light alloy.. Takes a while to do, and is in itself a highly specialised and expensive process.

[@acer1705]

Just checked out your channel, full of really good tips, it’s now my new bible, instant subscribed

[@ultimatehandyman]

Brilliant, I’m happy to hear that 👍

[@patrickzadd5215]

Very clever thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment 👍

[@johnfreeman6352]

Thank You That was very good clear understood and helpfull Thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Brilliant!!!!

[@jalechavez6042]

Buena Idea...!!...Gracias por Compartir.. Saludosss.

[@ultimatehandyman]

De nada. Gracias por el comentario

[@caskwith]

Never thought of using one of those diamond tile bits, will give it a go. In the past I have used a bit of metal tubing and filed some teeth into it. It works but it's not that fast as you have to keep clearing the chips and sharpening the teeth.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I thought about grinding up an old diamond coated hole saw, but they work perfectly as they are. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@caskwith]

@@ultimatehandyman Be a good use for a worn out one, I suspect the body is of much harder steel than most bits of tubing you will come across so any teeth cut into it would hold their edge quite well I imagine.

[@colinpovey2904]

Thank you.

[@geoffshapland3588]

I only just bought one of these hole saws for porcelain fixing and thought about using them for is, good job.

[@ultimatehandyman]

These kinds of bits are incredibly useful 👍

[@awantamta]

A brilliant tip.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm glad you like it 👍

[@JamesMcCreadie71]

Thanks! Such handy advice.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lectro88]

Very cool, never seen that method.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment 👍

[@wcz61]

Great video

[@davidgentz1731]

That's a great idea a little tiny hole saw I didn't know they had such a thing good to know thank you

[@ultimatehandyman]

They are incredibly useful 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXuml3iDp6idnsU&t

[@paulmullane9662]

Love it boss solution

[@karlforster4907]

Great tip, thank you. I'm a Locksmith, that will come in handy

[@PulseCodeModulate]

Nice trick and good info to know but, I have always just moved the whole hinge up or down 1/4 inch. Thanks for the tip.

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@JasonEllingsworth]

I actually started using my impact gun years back when installing door hardware, to avoid snapped screws. It sounds a bit crazy, I know. But if you are using a variable speed trigger impact gun, and have some good experience with it, you can drive and remove pretty much all screws safely and reliably every time. The problem I had using a regular drill, is the clutch would be inconsistent, and the torque is too steady. An impact uses small bursts of torque, and gives you a bit of a warning before you are about to snap the screw. A drill just doesn't do this and will shear it right off if it gets too much resistance. Nowadays my drill only gets used to make holes, and all screw fasters get installed with my impact gun. Been installing both commercial and residential hardware this way for maybe 12 years now.

[@peterxyz3541]

Thanks

[@stephenunsure2943]

Very useful thanks.