9 Ways To Remove Stripped Screws

Do you want to learn how to remove a stripped screw?

As a home inspector, I have been around a lot of contractors and DIYers, and removing stripped screws can be a frustrating problem — bringing home projects to an inglorious halt.

In this guide, we’ll go over:

• How to use rubber bands to easily remove stripped screws
• Clever hacks like using superglue and friction gel
• Tips to use common tools like pliers or drills
• And why cutting a simple notch is one of the best strategies

Let’s get started on the best ways to remove a stripped screw!

Strategy #1: Rubber Band (Easiest)

A simple rubber band offers an easy way to remove stripped screws — and it’s something nearly every home has on hand.

The band’s flexibility molds to the screw head and fills in the crevices that have been stripped. Rubber has much more friction than metal, so it provides that needed extra grip.

This method is great for screw heads that haven’t been totally stripped since the rubber won’t have any grooves to grab onto.

The idea is to put the flat rubber band over the screw head, and then use a Phillips or flathead screwdriver to put pressure onto the rubber and the screw head.

The best rubber band to use is one that is as wide as possible so that it will completely cover the screw head with extra room to fill in the hole when pushed down.

Advantages

• Low-cost and uses everyday household item
• Unlikely to further damage screw head
• Provides extra grip and torque

Disadvantages

• Only effective for partially stripped screw
• Rubber may leave pieces behind in screw head if torn

5 Steps To Using A Rubber Band

1. Rubber Band Size: Ideally, find a wide and thick rubber band that is wider than the screw hole. The type of rubber band used for produce is a good choice.
   
2. Put Over Screw: Lay the rubber band flat over the screw head.
   
3. Insert Phillips Or Flathead: Press screwdriver firmly over the rubber band, allowing it to flex and fill in the crevices. Ideally use a manual screwdriver for better control.
   
4. Slowly Turn: Turn screwdriver counterclockwise. Start slowly to avoid ripping the band, and apply even pressure.
   
5. Adjust As Needed: You may want to experiment with a different sized screwdriver, a thicker rubber band, or gently tapping screwdriver for a better fit.
   

Strategy #2: Friction Gel (Fastest)

Friction gel provides a quick way to remove stripped screws — no extra tools needed.

Popular friction gel products include ScrewGrab and DAP Liquid Grip.

Friction gels are made out of abrasive particles (such as crystals) and thickening agents that can greatly increase grip between the screw head and a screwdriver.

The idea is to insert a drop of friction gel into the screw head which fills the gaps and crevices of the screw head. It also works on different screw types like Phillips, flathead, and hex.

The main downside is that friction gels only work for slightly stripped screws since your screwdriver still needs to be able to fit into the slots.

Advantages

• No special tools needed except for the gel
• Enhances grip almost instantly
• Simple and inexpensive

Disadvantages

• Only works for slightly stripped screws
• Over-applying can clog the screw

3 Steps To Using Friction Gel

1. Clean Screw Head: Use a brush or toothpick to clean the screw head of any debris to provide a clean surface for gel.
   
2. Apply Gel: Apply 1-3 drops of gel onto screw head. Don’t put on too much gel which will clog the screw slots.
   
3. Use Screwdriver Immediately: Most friction gels aren’t designed to dry, and you should start turning the screw immediately. Push the screwdriver into the gel, and slowly turn counterclockwise to loosen and remove the screw.

Strategy #3: Pliers Or Vice Grip (Most Manual)

Pliers or vice grips is a nice manual method to remove stripped screws if the screw head is exposed.

This method requires the screw head to be slightly raised so you can get the pliers around the screw head.

The concept is to bypass the stripped screw head entirely by using the turning force of pliers. Locking pliers work great on larger screws because it allows you to focus entirely on turning rather than gripping.

Grip the screw head horizontally with pliers for a stronger turning force.

The risk of this strategy is damaging the outside of the screw head, especially with soft metals like screws made out of brass. There is also a risk of damaging the surrounding material or your hand if the pliers slip off.

Advantages

• Requires only pliers or vice grip
• Fast removal for exposed screw heads
• Bypasses stripped screw head

Disadvantages

• Only works for raised screw heads
• Requires a strong grip if you don’t have locking pliers
• Risk of damaging soft material of screw head

4 Steps To Using Pliers

1. Pick Right Tool: Use locking pliers for larger screws and pliers for small screws.
   
2. Expose Screw Head: Verify that the screw is raised enough to be gripped by the pliers. If possible, remove surrounding material to further expose the screw.
   
3. Clamp Pliers: Hold the pliers horizontally on the screw head for the best turning power. If using locking pliers, adjust the tension knob until the grip is locked.
   
4. Turn Screw: With steady pressure and a tight grip, turn the pliers counterclockwise. Wiggle the screw lightly to loosen it if needed.

Strategy #4: Hammer and Flathead (Most Primitive)

The hammer and flathead screwdriver method is an old and classic technique to remove stripped screws.

The idea is to use the hardened steel tip of a flathead to form a notch or indentation in the screw head when it’s hit with a hammer. Alternately, a hand impact driver can be used instead of a flathead screwdriver but it still needs to be hit with a hammer.

Once you form a slight notch in the screw head, slowly turn the flathead screwdriver counterclockwise. It may take a few cycles of tapping and turning to remove the stripped screw.

This method works especially well when the screw is made out of softer material such as brass, aluminum, copper, non-hardened steel, or zinc. If the screw is made out of a dark or blue-colored steel, this method is unlikely to work since the screw is made out of hardened steel just like the flathead tip.

And if the screw head is overly damaged, I recommend using a different strategy.

Advantages

• No special tools needed
• Good for rusted, recessed, and lightly stripped screws
• Fast and easy method

Disadvantages

• May damage surrounding material
• Won’t work for hardened steel screws
• Risk of injury with hammer

6 Steps To Using Flathead And Hammer

1. Pick Tools: Choose a flathead screwdriver that fits the screw head, and a regular hammer.
   
2. Hold Down Flathead: Position the flathead screwdriver perpendicular over the screw head, holding it firmly in place.
   
3. Tap With Hammer: Lightly tap the screwdriver with a hammer a few times until it forms a slight groove.
   
4. Turn Screwdriver: Once there is bite, firmly and slowly turn screwdriver counterclockwise.
   
5. Tap and Repeat: Tap the hammer again if needed, and firmly turn screwdriver.
   
6. Remove Screw: Pull out screw or use pliers once the screw head is raised above surrounding material.

Strategy #5: Cut A Notch (Most Creative)

If you have a Dremel, angle grinder, or oscillating multi-tool, cutting a notch into the screw head is a clever way to remove a stripped screw.

The goal is to cut a shallow notch — about 1 to 3 millimeters — just enough to be able to use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the stripped screw.

It’s essential to use a small cutting wheel for a Dremel at around 1-inch. A comparable disk for an angle grinder would be a 4-inch or 5-inch cutting wheel. Make sure it is as thin as possible to match the flathead screwdriver for maximum grip — around 1/32 to 1/16 inch thickness.

Ideally, the cutting disk should be made out of aluminum oxide or zirconia alumina which is much harder than aluminum, steel, or brass screw heads — easily cutting a notch.

Please use goggles and gloves with this method since it will likely create sparks, and make sure there isn’t anything flammable nearby.

Homeowners will also need to secure the object with the stripped screw, preferably on a table with clamps.

Advantages

• Good option when other methods fail
• Creates new surface to grip flathead screwdriver
• Uses common household tool

Disadvantages

• Injury risk if tool slips
• Safety glasses needed for sparks
• Cutting too much may break screw head (making it harder to remove)

5 Steps To Cutting A Notch

1. Secure Object: Secure the object if needed, ideally with clamps.
   
2. Cutting Disk: Attach a thin cutting disk (0.8 to 1.5 mm thick) onto angle grinder or Dremel.
   
3. Wear Protective Gear: Wear safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself from sparks or flying bits of metal. Make sure there aren’t flammable materials nearby.
   
4. Cut Notch: Grind a shallow notch just deep enough for the flathead screwdriver, about 1-2 mm thick. Make the cut as straight as possible.
   
5. Use Flathead: Take a flathead screwdriver, and firmly turn counterclockwise on the screw head to remove it.

Strategy #6: Screw Extractor (Most Reliable)

Screw extractors are double-sided drill bits that are highly reliable at removing severely stripped screws.

One side of the drill bit is used to drill a smooth hole into the screw head, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch depending on the screw size.

The other side is tapered and reverse-threaded which is used to bite into the screw — giving it torque to pull out the screw. This bit side is made out of hardened steel with coarse threads that allows it to bite into the softer metal of the screw which is usually brass or steel.

Screw extractors are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes, and easily handle most stripped screws.

The biggest risks of using a screw extractor is breaking off the screw head (too deep a hole) or drilling the hole off-center or crooked.

Advantages

• Works on totally stripped screws
• Won’t damage surrounding material
• Comes in a variety of sizes when you buy a kit
• Great for recessed screws

Disadvantages

• Requires extractor kit and power drill (or tap wrench)
• Risk of breaking off screw head
• Need to pick right sized extractor

4 Steps To Using Screw Extractor

1. Pick Screw Extractor: Choose the right sized extractor for the screw. The drill bit side and the extractor side should be slightly larger than the screw hole. You want a pilot hole slightly larger than the stripped screw hole.
   
2. Secure Object: If needed, secure the object with stripped screw using clamps to prevent movement when drilling.
   
3. Drill Pilot Hole: Using the drill bit end of the extractor, drill clockwise a 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch pilot hole into the screw head. Make the hole only slightly larger than the screw hole to smooth it out.
   
4. Use Extractor Side: Flip the bit to the extractor end, insert it into pilot hole, and turn drill counterclockwise to remove the screw. Apply steady pressure and start slowly.

Strategy #7: Epoxy (Most Surprising)

Epoxy can be an unexpected but effective solution for removing a stripped screw using a common hardware item.

There are two ways to use it:

1. Drip epoxy into the stripped screw head, and then stick a Phillips or flathead screwdriver into it — allowing it to dry.
2. Use epoxy to bond a nut onto the top of the screw head, and then using a wrench to turn the nut.

I recommend using an epoxy that is designed to bond to metal such as J-B Weld — known to create a very strong cement-like bond.

This strategy is more likely to work for small screws that don’t require a lot of turning power or torque.

Overall, this method is best for small to standard screws that don’t require a lot of turning force. If it is a larger screw, it will likely break the epoxy bond.

Advantages

• Easy method with common supply
• No special tools needed
• Non-destructive method

Disadvantages

• Likely to break bond if high torque required (larger screws)
• Unlikely to work for recessed or severely damaged screws

5 Steps To Using Epoxy

1. Clean Screw Head: Clean the screw head of dust and oil in order to create a tight glue bond.
   
2. Apply It: Place a few drops of epoxy onto the screw head.
   
3. Place Nut Or Screwdriver: There are two options, you can either place a nut (slightly larger than screw head) onto the epoxy or directly insert a Phillips or flathead screwdriver into it.
   
4. Allow Epoxy To Dry: Follow the package instructions and wait for the epoxy to properly set.
   
5. Remove Screw: Use a standard wrench to loosen the nut. If you cemented a screwdriver into the screw head, turn the tool the remove the nut. Alternately, you can use the wrench to turn the screwdriver for a better grip.

Strategy #8: Drill Bit (Most Aggressive)

Using a drill bit is a forceful yet effective method for removing stripped screws.

It works by drilling into the screw head, breaking it free, and then manually using pliers to twist out the remaining screw shaft. Once the screw head is broken off, it releases the downward or gripping force on the screw shaft — making it easier to remove.

This method is great for severely stripped screws when easier methods fail like using a hammer and flathead.

There is a risk of damaging or dulling your drill bit especially if it’s used on hardened steel screws. There is also an increased chance of damaging surrounding material — but it’s worth it if other strategies haven’t worked.

Besides just removing the screw head, homeowners can also use the drill bit to remove the entire screw shaft as well if needed.

Advantages

• Works for highly stripped/damaged screws
• Uses common powered drill and drill bit
• Effective on a variety of screws and surrounding materials

Disadvantages

• It’s a destructive method removing screw head
• May damage surrounding material
• Metal shavings require cleanup

5 Steps To Using A Drill Bit

1. Pick Drill Bit: Choose a drill bit that is larger than screw shaft but smaller than the screw head.
   
2. Secure Object: Use clamps or other tool to secure object and prevent movement when drilling.
   
3. Center Drill Bit: Position the drill bit exactly in the center of the screw head.
   
4. Detach Screw Head: Drill slowly with even pressure until the screw head detaches.
   
5. Remove Screw Shaft: Use pliers to turn screw shaft counterclockwise to remove it. Wiggle shaft back and forth to loosen it if needed.

Strategy #9: Weld A Nut (Most Advanced)

If you own a home welder, welding a nut onto the screw head is an advanced way to remove a stripped screw.

The objective is to weld a nut that matches or is slightly larger than the screw head size. Then, weld into the nut hole to create a solid bond.

Once the nut has fused onto the screw, you can use a wrench to loosen and pull out the screw.

Obviously, this technique should only be used if you own a welder and have experience. It’s essential to wear proper safety gear to avoid damage to eyes and skin.

Also, this method will work best if the screw is stuck in metal or wood — since plastic will melt from the heat. But regardless of the surrounding material, there is always a risk of damaging it with the high heat.

If the screw is in wood, it’s important to shield it since it may scorch the surrounding wood.

Just be mindful of protecting the surrounding material when using this method.

Advantages

• Perfect for badly stripped or rusted screws
• Works best for larger screws in metal
• The high heat helps loosen the threads

Disadvantages

• Needs a home welder
• Risk of damaging surrounding material especially plastic and wood
• Safety risks of sparks and fire

5 Steps To Welding A Nut

1. Choose Nut: Pick a nut that is the size of the screw head or slightly larger.
   
2. Protect Area: Shield the surrounding material and nearby objects to prevent damage. Move any flammable materials away from the weld.
   
3. Center Nut: Place the nut at the center of screw head.
   
4. Weld The Hole: Weld the inside of the nut to create a tight bond.
   
5. Remove Nut: Let the weld cool, and use a wrench to slowly turn the nut counterclockwise.

Final Thoughts

A stripped screw is a common and frustrating problem, but fortunately, there are a variety of techniques to remove them.

Whether you use low-budget options like a rubber band, superglue, or more advanced methods like welding a nut, or using an extractor kit — it mostly depends on the supplies you have and how badly the screw is stripped.

It’s essential to pick a strategy that minimizes damage to surrounding material, and uses the right tools for the size and severity of the stripped screw.

I hope you enjoyed this guide by TimberSill.

Ask me a question or leave a comment below on your experience with removing stripped screws.