Q&A for How to Remove a Stripped Screw

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  • Question
    How do I put a metal bed together when one screw hole is crooked?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    You'll have to re-tap the thread of the crooked screw hole on the metal bed to make it straight.
  • Question
    How do I get a screw that is stripped out of a toy plastic gun?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Try and use needle nose pliers to pull the screw out a little. While applying pressure, try and unscrew.
  • Question
    How do you take out a stripped screw with a raised head?
    Gino Colucci
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Gino Colucci is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Crackerjacks Handyman Services (not a licensed contractor) in Chandler, Arizona. Crackerjacks Handyman Services offers an effective cost-saving solution for commercial and residential repair and maintenance needs, specializing in smaller projects. Crackerjacks Handyman Services carries liability insurance and all technicians go through a background check.
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If the screw has a raised head, you can try to use pliers to remove it. If that doesn't work, you can use a screw extractor kit. It's a good idea to have one in your tool box—they're usually about $10-$20 and reusable.
  • Question
    How do I use a screwdriver on a stripped screw?
    Gino Colucci
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Gino Colucci is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Crackerjacks Handyman Services (not a licensed contractor) in Chandler, Arizona. Crackerjacks Handyman Services offers an effective cost-saving solution for commercial and residential repair and maintenance needs, specializing in smaller projects. Crackerjacks Handyman Services carries liability insurance and all technicians go through a background check.
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Try putting a rubberband or similar material over the screwdriver head and insert it into the screw. The rubberband can fill the stripped space. If the screw is soft metal, you could also try hammering a flat-head screwdriver in to create a new groove to bite on.
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