How to Remove Stripped Screws And Bolts

There is no BIGGER small problem than trying to remove a stripped screw or bolt. Stripped screws and bolts can be a pain to remove even with the right tools. Getting that stripped bolt head from the hole can still take some time while you go through a variety of different methods. Stripped Allen bolts are probably the most common as they are stripped easily. Here are some proven tricks to you can try yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Titanium drill bit
• Vise grips
• Stripped bolt extractor
• Broken screw extractor
• Penetrating oil
• Power drill

Instructions

1. Buy some penetrating oil from your local hardware store. Liquid Wrench makes some pretty good stuff. Spray a generous amount on the stuck bolt of screw and let it soak in for about 15 minutes. The oil will help break down rust and other debris that could be causing it to stick.

2. Tap the bolt or screw hard with something metal. This is the same concept used when trying to open a stuck jar. Sometimes the brut force will break the bond holding it in place.

3. Cut a slot in the top of your screw or bolt. If the screw has a protruding head, you can use a hacksaw or dremel bit to cut an + in the top of the screw. This will allow you to try to remove it again using a larger Phillips head screw driver.

4. If it's a bolt, try locking a pair of vise grips around it and just torquing it. These will give you a lot of grip than normal pliers. Don't worry about stripping it anymore.

5. Buy a bolt or screw extractor. These devices fit in your drill like a drill bit or socket. Screw extractors imitate a corkscrew removing a cork from a bottle. Where bolt extractors are just large sockets that fit over the bolt with many small teeth for friction. In my experience, these work about 60 percent of the time.

6. If none of these step work, your last resort is just to drill(bore) it out. It's important that you get a titanium bit and not a cobalt bit. Although it is more brittle, titanium is harder than cobalt and ideal for drilling screw and bolts out. Make sure the drill bit is approximately the size of the screw or bolt you are trying to remove. When it comes to putting an insert or tapping it back out later you want to have as much room as possible.

   If you are a skilled welder, welding a nut to the screw or bolt is another great option.