Using screws to fasten any products is convenient and reliable. But it often happens that you urgently need to unscrew a screw, but there is no suitable screwdriver at hand. Of course, using a screwdriver is the easiest and safe method, but if necessary, you can do without it. How to unscrew a screw without a screwdriver? Today you will learn about it!

Let's start with a screw is a cylindrical rod with a special head onto which a screw groove is applied. Screws are produced in a wide range regulatory documents, including GOST 1144-80, GOST 1145-80, etc.

However, there are two main types of hardware:

• classic screws;
• self-tapping(also known as self-tapping screws).

To designate in in this case the diameter and length of the screw are used (for example, a product with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 3.5 cm will be designated as 5x35 mm). In addition, hardware can be classified according to the shape of the slot and the features of the head itself:

• with a flat (countersunk) head;
• with the same, but smaller type;
• with press washer;
• with a hemispherical head.

All these varieties are produced with a cross-shaped slot, with a straight (flat) and with Torx slot(the latter is also known as an “asterisk”), as well as with an internal hexagon and other, less popular options. There are also self-tapping screws with hexagonal and octagonal heads (roofing), which are also made with different slots.

Note! According to the type of thread, screws are also divided into several varieties, which is determined, first of all, by the materials being connected and the specific purpose (for metal, wood, drywall or small household appliances).

Methods for unscrewing a screw without a screwdriver

Let's consider the most effective ways depending on the specific type of slot. Let's start with the cruciform.

Option No1. Phillips slot

First, note that some screws may have one recess on the head longer than the other. If so, then you should only work with a longer recess to make the task easier. Let us also add that the edges of these recesses can be worn down, and therefore you should work carefully, otherwise you can damage the product.

One of the most simple ways is the use of a coin. The method often works only with small screws. The coin must be inserted into the groove and then turned counterclockwise.

You can try to unscrew a loose screw with your fingernail. The steps are the same as in the previous method.

Take a knife, place it in the recess (long if they different lengths) and scroll. Be careful, because if the screw is tightly tightened and the knife you are using low quality, then it (the knife) can be bent without achieving the desired result.

Step 5. Use an old CD. Place its edge in the groove and turn. The CD itself may suffer as a result of such manipulations, so make sure in advance that it is no longer needed. This method will definitely not help with a tightly tightened screw.

Step 6. You can cut a long groove on the head with a hacksaw, but this method is effective only when the hardware is not completely twisted, that is, if the head protrudes somewhat above the surface. Hold the saw at a right angle to the head, cut slowly and carefully. Next, when the groove is ready, the screw can be unscrewed with a flat-head screwdriver or improvised means (for example, a credit card).

Step 7 Take a flathead screwdriver of the appropriate size if you don't have a Phillips head screwdriver. Typically, this can only work with large/medium diameter screws. Be careful not to tear off the edges of the slot!

Step 8 Another option is to use a toothbrush. Melt one end of it with a lighter, then immediately insert it into the recess on the head of the screw. After waiting a bit for the melted plastic to harden, turn the brush counterclockwise. Of course, this will not help if the screw is tightened too tightly.

Option No2. Flat spline

As noted earlier, there is only one recess on the head of such a screw. If you do not have a flat-head screwdriver, you can unscrew the product using improvised means. Let's see how this can be done.

Use a credit card - insert it into the groove and try to turn it. Use only an unnecessary card, because it may well be damaged during unscrewing.

You can also take the “ear” from tin can(from soda, beer). Insert the broken “ear” into the groove on the head of the hardware and twist.

Use a regular coin - insert it into the groove and try to turn it the same way.

Step 5. If the screw is not tightened very tightly, you can try to unscrew it with your fingernail. The method is not always effective due to obvious reasons.

Step 6. Try to unscrew the screw with a knife, inserting the blade of the latter into the groove. There will be a risk that you will bend the knife.

Step 7 Last method– use of pliers. Suitable if the screw is not completely tightened. It is advisable to use needle-nose pliers for this rather than regular ones.

Option No3. Unscrew the Torx screw

We are talking here about screws with a recess in the form of a six-pointed star on the head. Such screws, by the way, are protected - with a rod in the center of the star. In any case, proceed with caution, because the edges of such a slot can easily be damaged.

Try using a flathead screwdriver. Insert its tip into a pair of opposite rays, carefully scroll counterclockwise. And if the screw is protected, then insert the screwdriver between the rod and any of the beams, and scroll in the opposite direction.

To unscrew a protected Torx screw, try using a screwdriver for an unprotected one, but in this case the rod on the head will have to be removed (this can be done, for example, using a center punch and a hammer).

Another possible option– drill a hole on the tip of a regular screwdriver for the star rod.

Finally, you can use the same toothbrush by melting one end with a lighter (proceed in the same way as described in one of the previous methods).

Option No4. Unscrew the small screw

Let's say right away that small screws are especially difficult to unscrew without having the appropriate tools on hand. As a rule, such screws are found in various electronic devices. Ideally, tools designed for repairing glasses should be used for unscrewing (there will be no difficulties in finding them, and they are not very expensive). If such equipment is not available, resort to one of the methods described below.

Table No1. How to unscrew small screw.

Steps, photo	Description of actions
	Use a knife - place its sharp end into the slot and try to turn it. It is advisable to insert the tip at a slight angle to increase the contact area.
	Use a nail file. Proceed by analogy with the previous method.
	If you have small scissors with pointed ends on hand, you can use them. But let us immediately note that such scissors are not best option for unscrewing screws.
	Use tweezers. Insert its sharp end into the groove and try to turn it.

Note! Another good option is to use a regular nail, the tetrahedral point of which is ideal for a cross slot. For example, for screws mobile phone An 80mm nail will do.

Screw with torn edges

Screws with a flat/hemispherical head (or rather, slots) often break off, and there may be several reasons for this:

• using old, low-quality or unsuitable tools;
• incorrect screwing (with a hammer, for example);
• insufficient force when unscrewing/tightening and, as a result, the screwdriver pops out of the slot;
• “souring” of the screw (corrosion);
• incorrect use of hardware (without drilling when necessary, or for unsuitable material).

Method No1. Twisting

Carefully inspect the screwdriver you use to remove the screw and, if necessary, replace it with a more suitable one. It is important that the tip fits tightly into the groove and is not damaged. If replacing the screwdriver does not help, you can use other methods. If necessary, for example, unscrew a screw from wooden product, then hit the head and then tap the tool every time you apply force. You can also use pliers if possible, as we already mentioned above. Or you can use rubber bands to seal it.

Note! To make the self-tapping screw start to rotate, use a few drops of lubricant or brake fluid or kerosene. You can also heat the screw so that it expands - this way the material surrounding it is deformed, and the product can be unscrewed.

If all else fails, you can take drastic measures.

Video - The best ways to remove a broken screw

Method No2. Sawing

You can try to unscrew any type of screw with a flat-head screwdriver. Using a grinder or a hacksaw, make a straight slot in the screw head. But remember that the slot must be at least ½ the height of the head, otherwise you risk destroying it. This method can be used in combination with others.

Method No3. Extractors

Another good way to remove a screw. Select a drill so that its diameter is smaller than that of the threaded part of the hardware, make a recess in the head, cut a left-hand thread there and unscrew the screw using conical extractors. This is suitable for all types of heads, but in the case of self-tapping screws you will have to choose a different method - they are produced hardened.

What conclusions can be drawn? If you need to unscrew a screw with torn edges, the easiest way to do this is by welding (or gluing, if the force is not too great) a nut or some kind of stop to the remaining part of the hardware, heating it and making a cut.

Video - How to unscrew a licked screw

5 /5 (8 )

The edges of a screw usually break off at the most inopportune moment, regardless of whether you are a master or a beginner. How to unscrew a screw whose edges are torn off?

Why is this happening

Most often, the edges of screws are torn off due to wear of the tool used. When the edges on the working area of ​​the screwdriver tip are not sharp enough and there is no tight contact between the tip and the screw, destruction (“licking”) of the ribs on the screw head occurs.

Another common reason is not enough strong effort applied by hand to the instrument. Due to the fact that the screwdriver tip does not fit tightly enough into the grooves on the screw head, the screwdriver tip slips during rotation, causing the edges on the screw to break off.

What to do first

The first thing to do when the screwdriver tip begins to jump off the edges and turn is to stop immediately. You should not be persistent, repeating attempts that aggravate an already difficult situation.

No matter what you did before: screwing a screw or unscrewing it, the only task facing you now is to unscrew the screw without damaging the material in which it is located.

Tool change

The second action in case of problems with the edges of the screw should be to replace the screwdriver with a new one with an unworn tip.

Using new tool, try to unscrew the unruly screw, making sure that the tip of the screwdriver fits securely into the grooves on the screw head and is pressed tightly against it.

If this does not help, the screwdriver continues to slip, and the edges on the screw are irrevocably torn off, proceed to in the following ways unscrewing a stuck screw.

Emergency methods for unscrewing a screw

If the screw is not screwed in completely, grab the head from the sides with the jaws of the pliers and, squeezing the pliers tightly, slowly begin to turn them in the direction opposite to the clock. Usually after a short physical exercise the screw comes loose.

Another way to unscrew a screw that is not fully tightened is to use a hacksaw to make a shallow (about 1-2 mm) cut, and then use a screwdriver with a flat (and always sharp!) blade to try to unscrew it.

If the material into which the screw is screwed allows, also not a bad option To remove it is to heat the screw head with the flame of a match or. When heated, the screw, although slightly, will expand and increase in volume, compressing the material into which it is screwed.

After the screw cools, its volume will return to its original state, but a microscopic gap will appear between it and the material. Now the screw will no longer “fit” so tightly and you can unscrew it, if not with a screwdriver, then certainly with pliers.

It will be a good idea to have WD-40 lubricating fluid on hand, which needs to be sprayed into the gap between the screw and the material into which it is screwed. Thanks to the lubricating properties of the liquid, the friction force between the screw and the material will be significantly reduced and the screw will become easier to unscrew.

If none of the above tips help, the screw will have to be either completely drilled out or drilled out a little, and then screw an extractor into this hole and use it to remove the screw.

There are no hopeless situations, and solving the problem of unscrewing a screw with broken edges is proof of this.

Good luck to you! May everything work out for you!

When carrying out repairs or construction work With your own hands, it often happens that you need to remove a screw whose head has been torn off. Depending on the type, size and material from which the screw is made, they can be used various ways extracting it. It also matters how badly the slot is torn and the material into which the screw is screwed.

You can remove the remaining screw using special tools - extractors. They are selected according to the size of the screw, screwed into drilled hole counterclockwise. After the extractor jams, you can remove the screw. If you don’t have such a tool, you can unscrew a small screw with a broken head using improvised means.

Quick navigation through the article

Removing a screw

You can remove the screw if the head is completely torn off in several ways:

• If the diameter of the bolt allows, you can drill it with a drill with a drill of a suitable size.
• If you take a smaller drill, you can place a bent nail into the drilled hole and remove the screw.
• If you need to unscrew a small screw, you can drop superglue on it and use a screwdriver. After the glue has hardened, you can try to unscrew it. Liquid nails can be used in a similar way.
• If the size and material into which the screw is screwed allows, you can use welding, then you need to weld the nut on top and then unscrew it.
• You can cut a slot on a large screw with a hacksaw and unscrew it with a screwdriver.

If the head is not completely torn off, you need to heat the screw very carefully so as not to damage the material into which it is screwed, then try to remove it.

Torn Edges

If the edges of the screw are torn off and the screwdriver turns when you try to remove it, you should:

• Cut out the edges so that a flat-head screwdriver can grip.
• Place the chisel against the edge of the head and, tapping with a hammer, try to turn the screw.
• Use a socket or adjustable wrench to remove a screw with stripped threads.
• Remove the screw by placing an impact screwdriver on the edge of the head.
• Place a flat-head screwdriver under the head and lightly hit the handle with a hammer.

If none of the options work, you can use a chisel and chisel to break the screw into pieces and remove it from the hole.

A very common problem during construction work is deformation of fasteners due to the inexperience of the contractor. However, sometimes even professionals find it difficult to figure out how to unscrew a screw with broken edges, and also to prevent a similar situation from reoccurring in the future. Let's think about solving this problem together.

Reasons for deformation of edges

It is no secret that unscrewing a tightly seated screw or self-tapping screw with torn edges from the body of the material can take a lot of effort, time and nerves, which is why it is advisable to take care in advance to prevent such situations.

And the first thing you should pay attention to is the quality of the equipment, because it is the wear of the tool that, in most cases, causes the edges of the fasteners to “lick off.” This circumstance is due to the fact that the tip of a screwdriver or a screwdriver bit is not sharp enough and does not ensure full contact of the screw with the working tool. Also, such a phenomenon can be caused by a mismatch of the equipment used, which is why before carrying out the work itself, it is advisable to make sure that the tip of the tool is completely immersed in the fastener slots, thereby ensuring a good connection.

The second reason for the deformation of the edges of the screw/screw is non-compliance with the screwing technology, which in most cases manifests itself when the performer applies insufficient force to the tool, that is, does not press on it properly. Or the equipment (screwdriver, screwdriver) is located at an angle to the fastener. In addition, screwing in screws at high speeds can also damage the fastener head.

The quality of the screws themselves (type of material, correctness of shape) also influences the correctness of their installation, which is why you should inquire about them before directly purchasing fasteners technical characteristics.

Method for unscrewing a screw with torn edges

If trouble with a screw does occur (the screwdriver or bit begins to turn, jumping over the edges), there is no need to fall into despair and try with all your might to tighten the “stubborn” one or, even worse, hammer it with a hammer, but simply stop and take all possible actions to remove the fastener from body of material. Moreover, depending on the circumstances, you can use one of the methods below to solve this problem.

Unscrewing a screw

The first step is to try to remove the deformed screw using the standard method by unscrewing it. However, this operation should only be performed quality tool, which may require purchasing additional equipment(bits, screwdrivers).

If the above action did not give the desired result, and the edges of the screw “licked” even more, then more radical methods will have to be used.

So, if the screw is not screwed into the body of the material to its full length and the head protrudes slightly above the plane of the material, then you can unscrew it using pliers, pliers or a gas wrench. To do this, it is enough to use the jaws of a plumbing tool to compress the head of the screw and unscrew the fastener counterclockwise.

When the screw is completely screwed into the body of the material, it is unlikely that it will be possible to unscrew the fastener without damaging it using the method described above. As an alternative, it is advisable to use the following methods.

Sawing edges

Allows you to provide a screw with a recess of 2-3 mm, with which (using a flat screwdriver with a sharp tip) you can unscrew the product. And making such a slot is quite simple, using a regular metal blade.

Threading

At a professional level, a stuck screw can be removed using special device(tap with left-hand thread). To do this, a hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the screw should be drilled in the body of the fastener, and after that, an extractor should be screwed into the resulting hole (counterclockwise) and when it rests, unscrew the fastener.

If all the methods described above did not lead to the desired result, then the screw with the torn edges is simply drilled out using a drill with a metal drill bit.

Before unscrewing a screw with torn edges, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with a number of recommendations that will make the work of removing fasteners less labor-intensive.

To form a free gap between the self-tapping screw and the body of the material into which it is screwed, the fastener can be heated (for example, using a soldering iron, an industrial hair dryer or a lighter). In this case, during the process of heating and subsequent cooling, the screw will slightly increase and then decrease in size, thus spreading out the material into which it is screwed.

Quite often it happens that the edges of fasteners are torn off during construction work. Usually this happens at the most inopportune moment, when you need to complete the task on time. How to unscrew a screw with stripped edges? Why do such troubles arise? What solutions solve the problem? We will talk about all this later in the article.

Why do the edges on the fasteners break off?

Before we figure out how to unscrew a star screw with torn edges, we will highlight a number of reasons why the problem occurs. Most often, trouble is caused by using a low-quality tool. We are talking about using a screwdriver or screwdriver attachment with an insufficiently sharp tip. In this case, the tight contact of the tool with the notches of the fastener disappears. Therefore, so that in the future you do not have to be puzzled by the question of how to unscrew a screw with torn edges, before performing work you need to make sure that the tip of the screwdriver is completely immersed in the grooves.

Another reason is non-compliance with the fastener screwing technology. Trouble occurs when the performer does not apply enough pressure on the tool. Sometimes the problem is caused by placing the screwdriver blade at an angle to the screw head.

It is easy to guess that this can happen due to the poor quality of the materials from which the fasteners are made. Individual items may also have marking defects. So that you don’t have to look for a solution on how to unscrew a screw with torn edges, before purchasing fasteners you should inquire about its technical characteristics and carry out a visual inspection.

What to do first if there is a problem?

When the tip of the screwdriver starts to come off the fastener cap, the first thing you need to do is stop. To prevent the trouble from becoming even larger, you should not persist in repeating your own mistake. Otherwise, you can simply damage the material into which the fastener is screwed, without achieving the desired result.

Next, you need to check how things go using another screwdriver. You should take a tool with an unworn sharp tip and try to non-violently remove the unruly fastener. How to unscrew a screw with torn edges if such actions do not help? In this case, you should use proven methods to resolve the problem, which will be discussed later in the article.

Fastener head crimping

How to unscrew a screw with broken edges? If its head protrudes above the surface of the material, you should use pliers, a gas wrench or pliers. It is enough to grab the screw with one of these tools and try to turn it. It is necessary to unscrew the fasteners in a counterclockwise direction.

Thread restoration

How to remove a screw with stripped edges? You can try to do it yourself new thread on the head of the fastener. To do this, you should use a hacksaw for metal with the thinnest possible blade. An alternative option is to use a miniature grinder. The cut should be made with extreme caution so as not to completely destroy the screw head.

Drilling a screw

How to unscrew a small screw with broken edges? If no gentle method gives results, you should take radical measures. We are talking about drilling out the fastener to its base. It is recommended to use an automatic drill with a metal drill for this purpose. Gradually, layer by layer, the fasteners will be removed from the thickness of the workpiece.

Increased friction force

To increase the adhesion between the screwdriver tip and the fastener cap, it is enough to place auxiliary material between them. Here you can use a piece of steel wool, rolled up tape, or a thin strip of rubber. One of these materials should be applied to the damaged screw head and try to remove it again using a regular screwdriver.

Heating the fastener

How to unscrew a screw with stripped edges? The problem can be resolved by heating the fastener. You need to resort to a solution only if there is minimal risk of damage to the material into which the screw is screwed. Heating will expand the metal. When it cools, space will be freed up in the structure of the workpiece, which will allow the adhesion to loosen.

To achieve the goal you can use gas burner or construction hairdryer. During the event, the device must be constantly in motion. Otherwise, the temperature may be too high and the material may be damaged. Once the fastener becomes hot to the touch, stop heating. After the screw has cooled, you should try to unscrew it using improvised means, for example, by grabbing the head with the same pliers.

Application of the extractor

An extractor can be a solution to the problem. The tool is a kind of screwdriver, the tip of which contains a reverse thread. On opposite side The device has a perpendicular crossbar with which you can perform rotations.

First, you need to make a notch on the head of the fastener using a punch and a hammer. The mark must be strictly in the center. Using a metal drill, make a small hole in the head.

Next, you need to use the extractor itself. The tip of the tool should be inserted into the prepared notch and hit on its back side with a hammer. It is necessary to tap the extractor until it is firmly fixed in the fastener head. Then you need to turn the device several times. Once the reverse thread of the extractor is firmly rooted in the structure of the material, you can begin to remove the screw.

Glue

You can try to remove a screw with broken edges using glue. The latter must be applied to the head of the fastener and a nut of the appropriate diameter must be attached here. It is recommended to use epoxy metal adhesive known as " cold welding" As soon as the substance hardens thoroughly, you need to put a wrench on the nut and turn the fasteners.

When performing work, you should use several tips:

1. Before resorting to drastic measures, it is worth examining reverse side workpiece into which the screw is screwed. Perhaps the tip of the fastener is peeking out from the inside. In this case, you can grab it with pliers and try to unscrew it from the inside.
2. When getting started, you need to make sure that the rotation of the fastener occurs in the desired direction. Some screws contain reverse threads. In such situations, to solve the problem you need to rotate clockwise.
3. If a screw leaves a gaping hole in the workpiece, you can solve the problem by inserting a larger self-tapping screw here. An alternative is to use a bolted connection with a nut.
4. When removing a screw using one of the above methods, all kinds of nicks and metal burrs are likely to form. To avoid injury during work, it is enough to put on thick gloves on your hands and protect your eyes with goggles.

In conclusion

So we looked at what to do to remove a screw with damaged edges. As you can see, find right decision it is possible even in the most hopeless situation. A wide variety of methods for unscrewing damaged fasteners confirms this.