Stuck screws

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Dylan123

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The only way I can access crawlspace is under the stairs. There is a loose board but you can see where there was another to allow access but it has screws into the joist and they are impossible to remove with an electric screwdriver or by hand.

Any tips on this or do I cut the board out and get a new one?
 
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Please describe or photograph the screwheads.
 

Phillips - see photos
1B55F621-A68B-4275-ACDE-E7C32AFC6CF6.jpeg
 
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They're too dirty and worn to tell if Phillips or Pozi.

Have you got the correct size of manual driver?

If you can get a left-handed drill, you can drill into the heads. The heat, vibration and torque will, probably wind them out.
 
JohnD said:
They're too dirty and worn to tell if Phillips or Pozi.

Have you got the correct size of manual driver?

If you can get a left-handed drill, you can drill into the heads. The heat, vibration and torque will, probably wind them out.
Click to expand...

you mean an electric drill that goes to the left? That’s what I’ve been using! Never heard of a left handed drill sounds like tartan paint or sky hooks! :)
 
Dylan123 said:
you mean an electric drill that goes to the left? That’s what I’ve been using! Never heard of a left handed drill sounds like tartan paint or sky hooks! :)
Click to expand...

Perfectly real.

You can start with a small one, if it doesn't come out, use one the diameter of the screw. The head will come off, you can lift out the board, and then wind out the stump with mole grips.

But very often the drill will wind the screw out.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...5460.m570.l1313&_nkw=left+hand+drill&_sacat=0
 
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Failing all of the above, chisel out the wood around the screw until you can grip it with mole grips.
Then turn it.
 
If there's room to swing a hammer, I think you could snap the head off with a bolster. With the head gone, you should be able to pry the wood up without too much damage.
 
Beg, borrow steal or God forbid buy a Dremel tool and some grinding discs. Grind a slot across the screw head. Use a straight screwdriver to get the screw out. Simples!
 
Thanks for all the ideas guys I have some really good ideas. You guys are a godsend for office boys like me

One other thing which might be worth considering
2CE5E5E4-5CAF-4BDE-A01C-74396F6C6A72.jpeg


that’s the “hatch”
one board loose by the meter tails.

the one you can see to the left is the one I’m struggling with.

Why on earth they screwed shut the access to the subfloor I don’t know. Could have just left it loose.

Even when I get that board off it might still be a bit tight if I want to avoid all the cabling and then 400 V power cable!

the board again to the left is uncut. I am thinking I could cut that as a third plank to a hatch. The only thing is, I would need to cut it over a joist.

multi tool marking the board depth so I don’t go into the joist? How do i ensure I don’t cut into the joist?

I suppose if I do it won’t be by much, provided I check there are no notched joists below for cables and pipes, should be ok?

thanks
 
foxhole said:
You have damaged the posi head using a Phillips head driver?
Click to expand...

possibly. I have 4 others, I could chisel this one out and use posi on the others.

I have a posi but but I haven’t got the tube thing to connect it to my drill - can get one tomorrow only A few quid from the local shop

I had two drill attachments one had a longer head that was cross and a smaller one. I presume the longer one was posi but I think it’s just a bigger Phillips
 
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