How to Remove a Stripped Screw (7 Methods)

Instructions

Different methods are used to remove a screw that is stripped; if you have any of the tools mentioned above, you can loosen it without too much trouble. Here are seven methods you can try if that stripped screw gets the upper hand and you refuse to let it win.

Method 1: Remove Stripped Screw With an Elastic Band

The elastic band is a multipurpose item you never thought could remove a stripped screw. There are various ways to remove a stripped screw, and the easiest one to try and should be the first option is using an elastic band.

Take an elastic band and place it over the head of the screw. If you have a wide elastic band, it will grip better and is easier to use. Take the drill with a screw bit that will fit and place it on top of the elastic band. Push down on the elastic band, so it is wedged between the drill bit and the screw.

Put the drill in reverse, apply pressure and squeeze the trigger. The elastic rubber will grip to any part of the stripped screw enabling the drill to loosen the screw. After the screw is out, if you look inside the stripped portion of the screw head, you will see a bit of the elastic band.

The elastic band solution for a striped screw does not always work, but it is so easy to try that when it does, you will be happy you tried it first.

Method 2: Remove Stripped Screw With Impact Driver

Impact drivers are amazing tools; if you do not have one, adding it to your tool collection is a must. An impact driver is easy to use and works similarly to a chisel, except the tip is an interchangeable bit and not a fixed sharpened end. To use this tool, you will need a rather hefty hammer to hit it at the back of the impact driver.

It is important that the impact driver bit you use is good quality and that it is properly placed in the stripped screw head. When you hit the impact driver, it turns the bit and functions to tighten and loosen, so be sure to have it set to loosen the screw and not fasten it even more.

To loosen the stripped screw, place the bit into the damaged screw and hit it on the top with a good hammer with some weight. Give it one or two good hits, and then check if the screw loosened. If it is still stuck, continue the process until it is loose. If it does not want to loosen the stripped screw after four or five attempts, consider using another method on the list of ways to loosen a stripped screw.

Method 3: Remove Stripped Screw With the Damaged Screw Remover

A damaged screw remover is a tool specifically designed to remove stripped screws, and if you have one, using it must be your first option. There are damage screw remover kits available, and they come with different size screw removers for different sizes screws.

Place the correct size screw remover bit into the drill and set it to the reverse setting. Place the bit into the stripped screw head and press down. You must press down hard on the stripped screw so that the screw remover bit can bite into the screw head to loosen it. Do not squeeze the drill trigger too hard; you want the drill to turn slowly so the bit can cut into the screw head and grip.

The damaged screw remover is a helpful tool for a stripped screw, but there is no 100% guarantee it will work, and if it does not, there are other options that you can attempt to remove that stripped screw.

Method 4: Remove Stripped Screw With GraBit Tool Kit

The GraBit tool is popular and the most effective tool to remove stripped screws. GraBit tool designers gave this bit a lot of thought and how to make it perfect for removing stripped screws. The bit has two ends purposed to remove stripped screws the first looks like a broken drill bit, and the second is spiraled to bite into the stripped screw.

Place the bit into the drill with the number one bit first and set the drill to turn anti-clockwise or reverse. Place it in the stripped screw head, press down hard, and squeeze the drill trigger slowly. Sometimes this side of the bit loosens the screw, but it is designed to create edges for the number two bit to bite into.

Suppose the stripped screw loosens with the number one bit; great! If not, place the number two bit inside the drill chuck and place it into the screw head. The second side of the bit with the spiral shape will bite into the grooves made by the number one bit and loosen the screw.

If the GraBit tool does not work, getting the stripped screw loose will be tough, but do not worry; there are more options you can try.

Method 5: Remove Stripped Screw With Spring Loaded Centre Punch

Using a punch to loosen a stripped screw is as old as the screw invention itself, but now the center punch has been improved to make stripped screws a thing of the past. The improved center punch has a small spring hammer action that comes in handy to loosen stripped screws in confined spaces. A normal punch and hammer will work fine if you do not have a spring-loaded punch.

Place the punch tip on the edge of the stripped screw where there is enough surface for the tip to sink in. Place the tip on the right-hand side on the edge of the screw so that when you punch the screw, it will turn anti-clockwise. Pull back on the hammer so that the momentum from the spring will force the hammer forward.

The first punch must create a dent in the side of the screw's edge enough to create a spot where the tip can wedge against it. Repeat hammering on that spot until the stripped screw starts to loosen, and continue until you can remove it with your hand or mole grips.

Method 6: Remove Stripped Screw With Left-Handed Drill Bits

Lefthand drill bits work similarly to a GraBit tool. Left-handed drill bits are hard to find, but if you have, it can make loosening a stripped screw much easier. Left-handed drill bits are designed to cut anti-clockwise, which is why they can remove stripped screws.

You must choose a drill bit smaller than the head of the screw but not too small that it does not have enough metal to bite into. Another important part when using a left handed drill bit to loosen a stripped screw is to turn the drill bit very slowly so it can bite into the metal and not cut it.

Place the left-handed drill bit into the stripped screw head, apply pressure and squeeze so the drill can turn until it bites into the screw and loosens it. 

Method 7: Remove Stripped Screw With Chisel and Hammer

A chisel and hammer are tools that most of us have, and these tools can loosen a stripped screw. If you do not own a center punch, a chisel can replace the part of the punch.

Place the sharp edge of the chisel on the side of the stripped screw and punch it in an anti-clockwise direction until the stripped screw gives and loosens enough that you can unscrew it by hand or with mole grips. If you are not too worried about the surrounding surface of the stripped screw, you can't cut a slot in the stripped screw with an angle grinder and loosen the screw with a flat screwdriver.