Screw recessed and head worn

JamesAsus · 24 Nov 2015

I bought a new build 3 years ago. Some of the handles on the drawers have peeled outer coating and look horrendous so my plan was to replace them all, unbeknownest (spelling??) to me, the heads of the screws are weak as anything and they have been way way overtightened.

To the point now where ive made a mess of a drawer and need a solution, ive managed to knacker the screwhead completely and it is also now recessed into the wood even more, i cant grab it while i twist the handle or anything. I was thinking of somehow drilling around it, making a bigger hole on the inside of the drawer so i can actually get hold of the head as i turn the handle or clip the head off so i can just pull the handle off.

Any tips at all? I dont mind damaging the inside of the drawer as i can just fill the bigger hole and drill a smaller one again but the outside would take all the veneer etc off.

freddiemercurystwin · 24 Nov 2015

Drill down the centre. Sharp HSS bit. Carefully does it.

JamesAsus · 24 Nov 2015

freddymercurystwin said:
Drill down the centre. Sharp HSS bit. Carefully does it.

I tried drilling it but the drill kept slipping and just causing more damage on the inner drawer. How big does the drill bit have to be in comparison to the screw?

Sandals · 24 Nov 2015

I had to drill out a load of rusted in 200 year old screws in some old shutters, so it was solid timber, not sure what your drawers are made from Used a drill bit that was just big enough to go through the middle of the head of the screw , so that came off completly and then had to dig around the top of the rod of the screw just enought to allow me to use pliers to manual unscrew the rest of it. Not sure if the was the best way but it worked of me, and Im not a professional. Make sure you have the right sort of drill bit and you might even need to do a really small starter drill to stop you skidding about.

You can also get special bits to drill out screws with, but I wasnt very succesful with those, but think it was down to the age of my screws and what they were made of. Might be worth trying.

freddiemercurystwin · 25 Nov 2015

As above, the same size or slightly bigger than the thread so expect you'd need something like a 5mm. Use a decent brand new bit, you could always start with a smaller bit, you need a steady hand and a slow speed to get the hole started.

JamesAsus · 25 Nov 2015

Ah okay, thi

freddymercurystwin said:
As above, the same size or slightly bigger than the thread so expect you'd need something like a 5mm. Use a decent brand new bit, you could always start with a smaller bit, you need a steady hand and a slow speed to get the hole started.

Ah ok think i was maybe going too big, i was going the size of the original screw head not thread, oops lol.

So once ive drilled will the head just fall off or will i have some work to do to get it off still?

They are only small screws as you would imagine

Sandals · 25 Nov 2015

If you manage to hit it dead centre you might be lucky to get the whole screw out, but if you just off centre the head will probably loosen and either drop or be able to be wiggled off. Each screw will be totoally different, so dont rush it.

chappers · 25 Nov 2015

start really small and work up until the head falls off.

foxhole · 25 Nov 2015

Are you using the correct size/type of screw driver? What drawers do you refer to? kitchen?

JamesAsus · 25 Nov 2015

foxhole said:
Are you using the correct size/type of screw driver? What drawers do you refer to? kitchen?

This is actually something im wondering.

Theres a few other screws that are going the same way, im wanting to replace all handles and dont want to be drilling them all out.

The head of the screw fits a philips fine and if its not been overtightened comes out easy, however as soon as i hit a tight one it slips, ive tried multiple size philips and flatheads and they all have the same problem, is there a different type of screwdriver head they may have used for the cupboard handles?

Ive attatched a image to see if any has another suggestion in terms of which screwdriver.

foxhole · 25 Nov 2015

Looks like philips,[could try a posi drive] though you screwdriver is badly worn [chuck it].Flat head may be safer way to release the screw then switch to philips.

JamesAsus · 25 Nov 2015

foxhole said:
Looks like philips,[could try a posi drive] though you screwdriver is badly worn [chuck it].Flat head may be safer way to release the screw then switch to philips.

I tried a flathead it was worse. I think i may realised part of my problem, like you say the screwdrivers not in good nick which has probably worn the head before i tried others, however i read somewhere that if you can move it slightly when seated in the screw, head its not big enough??. I have found a couple of drill bits which fit the screw head and dont move but do not want to use a drill to do it.

The drill bits are PH2, so will try a new screwdriver, what is the best material screwdriver to get? Carbon?

foxhole · 25 Nov 2015

You should not need anything special.

Sandals · 27 Nov 2015

This might seem a bit drastic, but is there anyway you could cut the handles off from the front of the drawers without damaging the front finish (a thin metal hacksaw blade?) and then push/twist the screws out backwards, from the front. If the handles are all being dumped anyway you dont need to be precious about them and it might save you alot of pain.

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Screw recessed and head worn

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