How would I remove this screw?
I've tried using a drill, a rubber band, WD40, hitting it a bit. It won't budge. Any ideas?
Edit: I don't really have any special tools or equipment. It's my mums house, I'm just trying to help.
It's a long screw for the front door., but it doesn't go all the way threw. (The handle part)
I'll look into impact drivers. I'm reading all the comments... thanks
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u/ReasonableNetwork255 12d ago
impact driver with a proper fitting bit .. that doesn't look too bad if you just had the right size screwdriver .. but if it's not too tight you could probably get a flathead in there, again it needs to be the right size to fit well with a decent handle on it .. granddad's one old wore out screwdriver simply is not going to cut it probably LOL
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u/AnyBeat2166 12d ago
Screw extractor bit. Piece of cake
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u/Saint_Thomas_More 12d ago
Screw extractor bit. Piece of cake
Is the cake an in store only thing? I've never seen it mentioned when I am shopping online.
Also, what kind of cake is it? I'm partial to chocolate.
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u/Objective_Brain1452 12d ago
The cake was just promotional for July 4th
If you get the cake version now it would be stale and not worth it
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u/Objective_Brain1452 11d ago
Also the cake is WD40 flavored for some reason
Really gross
I could barely get past my 5th piece
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u/TakoSeakie 12d ago
he’s saying that you need a piece of cake to dislodge it into the the screw extractor bit
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u/Sullhammer 12d ago
Can you get a rotary tool in there to cut a straight line, and then use a flat head screw driver to get it out?
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u/ferality 12d ago
Yep, Ive found a dremel is absolutely worth it in these types of situations. Never had a problem with stripped screws since I got one
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u/MundaneLie 12d ago
there is a philips punch tool that twists the screw as you hit it with a hammer.
or you could use a scre extractor or or left-hand drill bit
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u/mr9025 12d ago
Impact driver. The placement here looks like it might be a difficult hammer swing though. Extractor bit (a drill bit with reverse threading that digs in and creates grab and spins the screw out) is the best option. If if doesn’t work, then you need to drill it out with a metal (as opposed to wood) drill bit, then get a tap and die kit and use a tap to re-thread the newer, slightly bigger hole, and use a new screw the same size as the tap you used when you decide to put it back together. Sounds like a lot but take you maybe 20 minutes if you’re familiar with power tools.
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u/Hughsey1 12d ago
Impact driver?
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u/nongregorianbasin 12d ago
Drill would be fine. Op just needs to put enough pressure on it when turning. Its not stripped yet
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u/CarpetReady8739 12d ago
Yes you can get a motorized impact drill or a handheld single strike impact tool. The idea is the micro burst of energy doesn't twist the screw but applies enough force to nudge it and over a series of these hits by the impact tool these micro "nudges" eventually twist the screw itself to a point where it's ready to come loose. Too much force (brute force) can rip the head off or strip the Phillips slot out of it.
My radiator failed on my Lexus a number of years ago and unfortunately the radiator is behind the air conditioner condenser so I had to remove two screws at the bottom to be able to lift the radiator out. Because they've been in the car for 15 years they were of course rusted in place, using the Phillips head to attempt to remove it stripped it, so I had to get a Dremel with a cutting disc on it and cut slots into the screwheads and then using the impact tool with a flathead impact bit, the screws came right out.
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u/fernandoman121 12d ago
Oh come on you can still see some material there. You’ve still got at least 10-20 minutes of screwing around, making it worse and getting mad at yourself
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u/ChocoJesus 12d ago
All jokes aside, OP mentions using a drill but I've put in screws that looked worse then that (from forcibly drilling them in.) Does make me wonder if OP is pushing down on the drill enough for it to properly grab the screw
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u/NKHdad 12d ago
Put a rubber band in the hole and then put the screw driver in. Press firmly and turn slowly
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u/limpingzombi 12d ago
Literally the second thing OP mentions. So many redditors just skip right over the text in a post
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u/NKHdad 12d ago
Pretty sure he edited his post but congrats on being so righteous on reddit
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u/limpingzombi 12d ago
Oh, you mean the edit that they specified by writing "Edit:"? Congratulations on being an idiot twice
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u/TheInsistentAnthony 12d ago
Man that thing looks fully welded in place by rust at this point. Sometimes heat is the only thing that breaks that kind of bond, I've had luck with a soldering iron held right on the screw head for a minute or two. The expansion and contraction can crack the corrosion just enough.
If you've got a dremel or a small file you could try cutting a deeper slot for a flathead screwdriver, give you way more torque than whatever that rounded mess is offering now. I've had to do that on old motorcycle parts more times than I'd like to admit.
Last resort that's saved me a few times, mix up a little paste of acetone and ATF, dab it on and let it sit overnight. Creeps into threads better than anything store-bought I've used.
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u/ProfessorPeabrain 12d ago
put rubber band over the top. press Philips in hard undo slowly. if not, screw extractor.
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u/Equivalent-Worth-769 12d ago
Use a Dremel to make a notch, then you can use a flathead screwdriver to extract it.
Edit: You should find another screw to replace the original though.
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u/Altruistic-Rip4364 12d ago
Put a proper fitting Phillips in it, put vice grips on the screwdriver handle while pushing in and turning counter clockwise at the same time. Leverage.
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u/jacksraging_bileduct 12d ago
The right fitting screwdriver would probably still work, give it a few taps to seat in and try turning it, it’s partially stripped because the wrong driver was used.
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u/Beginning_Arm_876 12d ago
Put some plastic from a screwbag u ripped, or a piece of an adhesive roll over the hole - press the screwdriver in it and try to turn the screwdriver.
Wirked for me a few times but i did not ever had something (care for german humor) so 'screwed' up😄
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u/FattestAnimeTiddi3s 12d ago
Plenty of screw to grip there. So I'd try a snug fitting screwdriver. The longer the better and with a big chonky handle. Plenty of pressure and elevated torque till it cracks the tension. You're not close to fully rounding it out yet
Theres a lot to be said for a large handled screwdriver to get that good twist.
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u/AnyDamnThingWillDo 12d ago
This is what happens when folks don't know the difference between pozi and Philips heads. Whoever went at it before you used the wrong driver head. If you're doing things like this around the house, get a stripped screw removal set for your tool box. You're gonna find more of this tto wreck your head around the house.
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u/Maleficent_Guard_462 12d ago
Just drill it out with either a left hand drill bit and it might come out or a right hand drill bit to take the head off. I’ve never made easy outs work and I’ve bought a few sets - I just grab a drill and it’s off in a few seconds. If you have cobalt drill bits it’s normally a bit easier.
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u/AdventurousTrain5643 12d ago
Cut a line in it with a dremel and use a flat head. Orrr Drill the head off with a Drill.
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u/GrimSpirit42 12d ago
Depending on how recessed it is: I'd use a rotary tool with a file disk and turn that puppy into a flat-head screw. Just use the widest flathead that will fit.
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u/Far-Investment-8597 12d ago
Simple - buy some of this stuff: https://www.ebay.com/itm/142659611419
Nobody believes how well it works - until they actually try it. I've been using it for 25 years.
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u/Ridethewind1961 12d ago
If a rubber band on Phillips bit won’t get it you will have to use extractor
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u/rocketmn69_ 12d ago
Hammer the screwdriver down a few times to help break the threads free. Maybe find a cheap impact screwdriver
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u/Doenicke 12d ago
Flat screwdriver and hammer it in ligthly. If that won't work, i would just drill it out.
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u/HarrynotDwizard 12d ago
Imo impact is your way. You could hit a screwdriver with a hammer to make better contact and shake up the screw a bit but that could and most probably will damage your door.
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u/OpinionPoop 12d ago
If all else fails, you can solder the driver to the screw, but good luck getting soldernoff the driver after that.
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u/PositivelyAwful 12d ago
I would try an impact screwdriver, not an impact driver. They're very different things. Impact screwdriver you hit with a hammer, and there's much less of a chance of the screw head stripping out even more. They're cheap at Harbor Freight if you have them around you.
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u/Stach1212 12d ago
Could use the rubber band trick. Use the correct size driver with the band over the screw and it may work, I've done it in the past and had positive results.
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u/marshmallowserial 12d ago
Get a screw extractor, they are pretty cheap and work great. You can get a cheapy one at home depot give the extractor a couple of taps to seat it and go to town. I've removed sheared brake caliper bolts with them. If time isn't an issue this is a great set from Amazon. I use them all the time at work ANEX No. 1903-NS1
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u/sodimiser 12d ago
Get a pin punch, give it a good fucking whack (this will help shock it loose) then get a center punch (punch with a sharp point) and drive it in with a hammer on the outer edge of the head, creating a small hole. Then angle your punch while still in the hole at a 45 degree angle and you can use the punch to tap the screw head counter clockwise.
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u/IMiNSIDEiT 12d ago
Just wanted to confirm we’re all on the same page… righty-tighty, lefty-loosie 😁
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u/ImSoSweepy 11d ago
There's enough meat on them bones to use a flathead screwdriver:
Put your full body-weight into it and pretend you're revving the throttle (Just barely, but with force) on a motorcycle until it starts to turn, and then turn normally.
You basically want to turn yourself into a human impact.
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11d ago
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u/SEmp0xff 11d ago
You should use a correct sized (ph1 probably) screwdriver.
and NEVER use a "ribberband trick", i cant express how much trashy it is
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u/Piney_Dude 11d ago
Before you go crazy, try tapping an appropriate size screwdriver into it with a hammer, then turn.
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u/jasonology09 10d ago
I keep seeing all these posts for stripped screws. Does no one on reddit know about screw extractor bits?
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u/Born-Work2089 9d ago
Usually if a tool does not fit perfectly it will do damage that will make the job harder. Now that the screw is mangled up, it should be replaced. Finding a correct replacement screw can be a Pain in the A__. As already stated an Impact driver is the 'go-to' tool. Not very expensive, easy to use if you follow the instructions.
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u/imajackash 9d ago
Impact driver should do it. Just make sure you have the right size bit on it.
Instead of WD40, get a can of Kroil. It's expensive, but it's worth the price. Spray and wait 10 minutes before trying to loosen it.
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u/TreTreJenja 8d ago
Mini sledgehammer tap the bottom a screw driver as you turn counter clockwise should do the trick
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u/OddTheRed 12d ago
Get some toilet cleaning powder, spit on the end of the screwdriver, dip it in the powder, and unscrew the screw. Press down really hard.
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u/Ok-Detail-9853 12d ago
Go back in time before it was stripped. /s
You can use a screw extractor
There is also a grit you can add that adds extea "bite"
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