Day 4 – Removing a Stripped (or Painted) Screw
Welcome to Day 4 of my 31 Days of Handy Home Fixes. What happens when you strip a screw head just enough that the screwdriver won’t get a good grip? Or the screw has been painted over so many times that you can’t get the screwdriver head in the hole? Ahhh, well, I have two quick tips for solving this problem!
Grab a thick rubberband, your screwdriver and a hammer.
Day 3. Removing a Stripped (or painted) Screw
If your screw is painted over, this tip will probably work for you. Set the screwdriver in the screw head (be sure to line up the grooves in the screw with the screwdriver cross. Use the hammer to give the screwdriver one good whack.
The pressure will either crack the paint or set the screwdriver in just enough to get a grip on that stubborn screw.
Need a plan B? Use a rubber band!
Slip a thick rubber band over the end of the screwdriver. Insert it into the screw head.
Turn to remove the screw. The rubber band will fill in the hole and give some gripping power while turning the screw.
Uh oh, the screw still won’t come out? Here’s plan C: Use a dremel to get the screw out!
Also check out other participants in Nester’s 31 Days Challenge.
For the entire month of October I’ll be bringing you tips and fixes you can do to protect your home, save money and save time. Stick around to learn more tips tomorrow. Sign up to get all the tips in your email:
Other tips in the 31 Days of Handy Home Fixes series:
This is an astounding trick! I’ve run into so, so many situations where someone used the wrong screwdriver and seriously messed up the head. Aside from those tools they advertise on TV (which I doubt work that well anyway), the only thing I could think to do was apply more force.
I’ve even resorted to grinding down the point on my Philips head! I wish I knew about this trick. My mind is blown…by a rubber band. Thanks a lot!
um that is genius!! i am keeping this tip in my back pocket! THANK YOU for sharing!!
Great tips, love it!