It has happened to us all at some time or another. We’re in the middle of doing some well overdue maintenance in the home and that last screw will not come out. Frustrated, you give up and decide to come back to it later once you have calmed down. Except, when you do get back to it, the problem is still there. That screw will not come out.
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting into a DIY project only to be stopped by a stripped flat head screw, Allen screw, Phillips screw, or bolt. Hopefully, by the time you have read this tutorial, we’ll have given you some tips, and you will have all the knowledge needed to tackle any stubborn fastener.
Regardless of what kind of fastener you are trying to remove, the tools you may need to get the job done can be used on any or all of the common types of screws, Allen screws, or bolts.
Materials and Tools For Stripped Screw and Bolts You’ll Need
- Pliers/Locking pliers
- Power drill
- Oscillating tool
- Screwdriver set
- Screw extractor drill bits
- Hacksaw
- Hammer
- Center punch
- Machine oil
- Rust penetrating oil
How to Remove a Stripped Flat Head Screw
Even the most expensive screws can get stripped, meaning the slot in the head of the screw is either damaged or nonexistent. Without a slot, it is almost impossible to get a grip and rotate it. To remove the damaged screw, here are the steps to take and the tools you can use.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Use Pliers.
If you can see enough of the screw to grip it, try using pliers. You may need to use a bit of brute force, but it should loosen enough to remove it by twisting it right and left.
2. Try a rubber band.
One tip to try is to place a wide rubber band over the head of the screw and turn the screwdriver.
3. Use a power drill.
With your electric drill, position the chuck over the screw head, and tighten the jaws of the chuck to grip the screw. Put the drill into reverse and slowly extract the screw. If the screw doesn’t come out, then try step four.
4. Cut a fresh slot.
Use a rotary saw or oscillating tool to cut a new slot in the screw head, and by using a flat head screwdriver, the screw should turn.
5. Try a different screwdriver.
If there is even a partial slot left on the screw, try using a bigger or smaller screwdriver to get it to turn.
6. Use a special drill bit.
If all else fails, then a screw extractor set is the tool to use. Use a bit smaller than the screw. Drill into the head. Flip the drill bit over and insert the extractor end. Reverse the drill and slowly remove the screw.
How to Remove a Stripped Phillips Head Screw
Phillips head screws can’t take a lot of punishment without stripping, and if the screw is stubborn to come out, the chances are the head is going to be stripped.
Removing a Phillips screw with a stripped head is similar to removing a flat head screw.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Use Pliers.
If you can see enough of the screw to grip it, use the locking pliers or combination pliers. Lock them on the screw as tight as possible, and slowly, but firmly turn them anti-clockwise to remove the screw.
2. Try a rubber band.
A rubber band over the screwdriver head will give extra grip needed. Place a rubber band over the end of the screwdriver, insert the screwdriver into the screw and slowly unscrew the stripped screw.
3. Cut a slot.
If the screw doesn’t budge, then cut a slot in the head with a hacksaw or an oscillating tool. Use a flat head screwdriver in the new slot and back the screw out.
4. Use a screw extractor set.
If everything has failed to get the screw out, then using a screw extractor set, drill into the screw, but only deep enough so the extractor bit will get a grip. Flip the bit over, reverse the drill bit and extract the screw.
How to Remove a Stripped Allen Screw
An Allen screw with a stripped head can be a problem, but as with a flat head or Phillips head screws, there are ways to get the offending screw out.
Our reader’s question:
Now I’m trying to remove a 5mm stem bolt that got over torqued and then stripped when trying to remove. I’ve tried everything, but nothing is even making it budge. It’s just rounding out the hole even more. What are my options here?
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Use Pliers.
If you can see enough of the screw to grip it, try using pliers to twist it out.
2. Cut a Slot.
If you can, cut a slot in the head with a rotary tool and use a flat head screwdriver to extract it.
3. Use a screw extractor.
If the head of the Allen screw is flush with the material, a screw extractor is the best way to remove it. Use a bit smaller than the screw. Drill into the head. Flip the drill bit over and insert the extractor end. Reverse the drill and slowly remove the screw.
How to Remove a Damaged Bolt
You are attempting to remove a rusted bolt, and the unthinkable happens. The head has snapped off leaving the headless body inside. You have a couple of options. For this you will need, in addition to the tools mentioned at the beginning, a bolt extractor sized to fit the bolt.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Locate a drill that’s thinner than the bolt.
2. Use the center punch to make a point in the middle of the bolt.
3. While drilling slowly into the bolt, use machine oil to lubricate the drill bit, being careful not to slip and damage the threads of the material. If you do, you will create a problem when it comes to threading the new bolt in.
4. Insert the correct size of bolt extractor into the hole you have just drilled, and tap it in with a hammer until it is seated firmly in the bolt.
5. Since the extractors have a left-hand thread, use a pair of locking pliers or wrench and turn the extractor counter-clockwise to remove the bolt.
How to Remove a Screw Without a Head
If the head of a screw has snapped off while driving it into the material, then here are a few tips on how to get it out.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Use Pliers.
If enough of the screw is above the material, use locking pliers to grab the screw and slowly unscrew it until it’s free.
2. Dig it out.
If the head has broken off at or below the surface, use a utility knife to cut away enough material, so you can get a grip with the pliers and extract it.
3. Drill it out.
If cutting material away is not an option, then use a half-inch bit to drill deep enough all around the screw to be able to use the pliers.
Another option is to use a tool like this Screw Extractor to drill and extract the screw in one operation.
NOTE:Tips two and three will result in the surrounding material suffering damage.
4. Use a screw extractor.
If you don’t want to damage the material around the screw, then using a screw extractor such as the Grabit extractor, is an ideal solution for removing headless screws. It is a combination drill and extractor. Drill into the screw until it bites. Flip over the tool, and reverse the drill to pull out the screw.
How to Remove a Rusted Screw
At some time or another, you are bound to come across a screw that’s rusted and won’t budge. Rust can be thought of as a kind of glue, and you have to find a way to break the seal the rust has created before adding any kind of lubricant to help get the screw out.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. To loosen the grip the rust has on the screw, hit the head of the screw a few times with the hammer. This will create some pathways for rust penetrating oil to seep in.
2. Spray or pour rust penetrating oil around the head of the screw and let it sit for a couple of minutes, then hit the screw a few more times with the hammer. Leave it for around 15 minutes to allow the oil to work.
3. When you are ready, give the screw a few more hard hits then tap the surrounding surface to drive the oil further into the screw threads. Try to remove the screw.
PRO TIP: If the screwdriver starts to slip or strip the head, stop. You will only make matters worse. If you have any powdered kitchen cleaner, mix a little with a few drops of water, and put the paste into the screw head helping the grip your screwdriver can get.
4. Now push the screwdriver hard downwards and twist at the same time, to release the screw.
We hope you enjoyed reading this tutorial, and gained some insight on how you can get that one screw, bolt, or other fasteners out, so you can finish your project.
As a DIY enthusiast myself, I have used many of the solutions listed here and saved myself a lot of time, and I’m sure you will too.
Please leave any comments you have about this article, and feel free to share it with your friends if you enjoyed it.

About the author
Eugene M. Carter is a hobbyist and DIY enthusiast.
He always chooses carefully tools for various DIY and automotive projects. Eugene started this website to share with you his experience and help pick the right tools that are worth your time and money.
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