How can I unscrew a stripped screw?

12/17/24 6:23pm

Hey there, friends. I’m not the handiest on the planet and I’ve got to undo this plank in my home that covers a threshold. The problem is the screws are all stripped like nobody’s business. I don’t really know how to get them out, so I’m turning to you fine folks. How can I get stripped screws out of wood?

View hidden comment

By posting this comment, you confirm that you are at least 16 years old and agree to wikiHow’s Terms of Use .

Sort By:

Expert Answers

Gino Colucci
Home Improvement Specialist

12/17/24 8:01pm

You can use pliers if the screw has a raised head. If you can't grip the head, the fastest and easiest method would be to use a screw extractor kit. They’re one of the most helpful things you can keep in a toolbox—they’re typically around $10-20, so they aren’t super expensive, and they're reusable. You can also try putting a rubber band or similar material over the screwdriver head in between a screwdriver and the slot for the head to get some traction. If the screw is made of a softer metal, try hammering a flathead screwdriver into it to create a new groove for a screwdriver to bite on. If all else fails you can use a heavy-duty drill bit to drill through the stripped screw.

View hidden comment

Reader Answers

WikiCaribouWhisperer217

12/18/24 11:47am

Something that has worked for me in the past is heating the end of a plastic pen with a lighter until it melts, and then firmly pressing the melted plastic onto the screw and holding it in place until it has cooled and bonded with the screw. Then you should be able to pull it out!

View hidden comment

WikiEmuLeaper240

12/20/24 2:29pm

Like others have mentioned, you can put a rubber band between your drill and your screw to get some traction. If you aren't having success with the rubberband, you can also try a balloon or a few sheets of tin foil.

View hidden comment