What can I do - I've shredded a screw?

Question

Hi all,
I've shredded a screw by using the wrong screwdriver and now I can't grip the screw with any screwdriver. Does anyone know what I can do?

Thanking you,
Stuart Guthrie :-)

Thank you all very much for your suggestions. It is greatly appreciated. :-)

Answer 1

Is this a riddle?

Answer 2

It depends on how tight the screw is in. You can use cheap cost items such as a strong magnet to trun the screw out. Or you can apply an adhsive to the screw and a driver. or lstly, try to make new lining. All these are suggestions only, it depends on what items the screw is on and what material is available. If you are still having some proble and in despeate measure to get the screw out, then you can try to go to an electronic store to buy an electronic welder that is like a pen with a handle behind, and a silver melt (whatever it may be called) to ensure maximum grip with the screw. you melt some of the silver onto the screw and use a metal devices to unscrew it from its location.

Answer 3

Hi,

Knowing how big the screw is would help in knowing how best to remove it. I will just give you a few suggestions.

Use a left handed drill bit. As you begin drilling, often the drill will grab a bit and spin the screw out. If the screw doesn't come out this way, use an extractor in the hole you just drilled and screw it out.

If you don't have the above tools, try cutting or grinding a slot in the head of the screw and then use a common screw driver to screw the screw out. Use a hacksaw blade in your hand or a small "Dremel" type tool with a cutting wheel to cut your slot.

You may also use a very small chisel or sharp punch and rotate the screw on the outside of it's head just a bit to loosen it.

If all else fails, drill the screw out slightly undersize and then retap the hole with new threads.

May this be of help to you.

Answer 4

If you know someone with one of those little Dremel tools that has a cutting attachment on it, you could cut some new slits on top of the screw to make it like new. Just be careful not to cut too deep or you'll ruin the screw all together.

OR, get some 2-ton epoxy enamel and glue a useless screwdriver to the screw and find a way to make it sit in that position for an hour. Then try to turn it.

Answer 5

if the head is raised, grasp it with a small pliers or very small vice like tool and see if you can slowly turn it...if it is not a raised screw, and it is large enough, you will need an extracting drill bit of a size smaller than the screw you goofed. If it is small, you could drill with a very small bit so that you just drill the interior of the screw...it also depends on what it is screwed into. If it is something very strudy, hammer the screw driver into the screw to create a almost a new indentation and then unscrew normally. I have done each of these with success mainly, it just depends on the application. Hope one of these ideas works for you.

Answer 6

I've found that often, if a screw extractor doesn't work, simply cutting the screw off with a Sawzall does the trick. Depending on what you're looking at, some bolt cutters can do the trick, as well.

Answer 7

There is a device sold in most hardware stores for exactly this problem. It's called a screw extractor.

Answer 8

get a drill bit one size smaller than the diameter of the screw (not the screw head), and drill out the old screw.

Answer 9

i hope it is not from you brain.

You have a special screw driver which makes hole in shredded and reverse direction takes it out.

All the best

Answer 10

Put some joint compound on it and try again.