Stripped screw head

[ecuk2]

Hi everyone

I had a stripped screw head, so I used one of those extractors... and the extractor tool seems to have simply made the stripped head even worse!

Can anyone suggest a straightforward method of getting this screw out? It's very tight, unfortunately.

Thank you

 

[johnny2007]

It's in wood, so remove the other 2 and gently lever it out, the light fitting might get scratched if you're not careful.
Once it's out enough to grip the head, use vice grips to slowly unscrew it.
Or, as above, but once you have a gap, use a multitool to cut the screw.

 

[Lower]

Looks like the head is off the screw so you can remove the fitting. There should be enough screw sticking out when the fitting is removed to get a pair of mole grips on it and gently wind it out.

 

[ecuk2]

Looks like the head is off the screw so you can remove the fitting. There should be enough screw sticking out when the fitting is removed to get a pair of mole grips on it and gently wind it out.

Hi, thanks for the reply - sadly the head isn't off - it's just nicely ground

Will probably have to try taking the other two screws out and then pulling the unit away as Johnny suggested.

 

[Lower]

Hi, thanks for the reply - sadly the head isn't off - it's just nicely ground

Will probably have to try taking the other two screws out and then pulling the unit away as Johnny suggested.

Drill the head off the screw then. You're part of the way there already.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Do this:

Drill the head off the screw then. You're part of the way there already.

Not this:

It's in wood, so remove the other 2 and gently lever it out, the light fitting might get scratched if you're not careful.
Once it's out enough to grip the head, use vice grips to slowly unscrew it.
Or, as above, but once you have a gap, use a multitool to cut the screw.

 

[johnny2007]

Do this: Lower said: ↑ Drill the head off the screw then. You're part of the way there already. ="freddiemercurystwin, post: 5229738, member: 46858"

Good luck with that.
Most diyers don't have decent hss drill bits, so they'll just burn them out.

 

[Lower]

Good luck with that.
Most diyers don't have decent hss drill bits, so they'll just burn them out.

You might be right. But its the best way to do it.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Good luck with that.
Most diyers don't have decent hss drill bits, so they'll just burn them out.

An adequate HSS bit costs about £1 from Screwfix, a multitool ...... £40?

 

[mikeey84]

I'd slip a hacksaw blade behind and chop it, but the drilling out suggestion would be number 2

 

[johnny2007]

An adequate HSS bit costs about £1 from Screwfix, a multitool ...... £40?

Clearly you never tried to drill a screw out with a cheap drill bit.
It doesn't work.
Of course one would not buy a multitool just for one screw.
A hacksaw blade works by the same principle.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

A poor workman always blames his tools.

 

[johnny2007]

A poor workman always blames his tools.

I see.
You're one of them who can carve a marble statue with a teaspoon in an afternoon.
What a load of boll@x!
A good workman uses proper tools and keeps up to date with advanced technology.
A £1 hss drill bit belongs in the rubbish bin.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Nah cobblers, the OP needs nothing more than a£1 bit from Screwfix any old cheap drill, it's a tiny screw FFS nothing more. Retired or were you laid off?

 

[JohnD]

a left-hand drill is preferred

with reasonable luck, the torque, heat and vibration will wind the screw out.