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removing a screw with a stripped head, help!!!

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dp004i

Golden Member
Not even sure this is the right forum to ask, but here it goes: is there a way to remove a philips head screw with a stripped head (there's very little of the x-shaped indentation left, it's basically just a conical-shaped hole) without drilling it out? The head is round, I can't get a good grip on it with pliers. Also, it's in a pretty confined space, so my selection of tools is limited. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Also, PMing me would be better than replying to the thread, since I'm at work right now and can't visit the forums too often.
 
super-glue a small cube shaped object to the screw head (an object that will fit in the sapce and allowing turning and is strong engouh to allow for the required torque)...then just unscrew with a pair of needle-nose pliers...I've done it several times and success every time.

Hope it goes well...
 
Thanks, I might give that a try. It's kinda tight in there though, the screw is at the bottom of a laptop case. Not sure if i'll be able to reach in there with anything but a screwdriver.
 
If you're really desparate and have any "easy-outs," you could drill a hole in the screw and try backing it out with an easy-out. However, this is risky business since one possible outcome is that the tip of the easy-out breaks off in the screw, leaving you worse off. Generally, if the screw is in so tight that you can't remove it with a Phillips screwdriver, an easy-out of that size would break before it got the screw loose.

If you could get at it with a thin emery-board cutting wheel on a Dremel, you could cut a new slot in the head of the screw and use a flat-tip screwdriver on it. As a former bicycle mechanic, I've had to do my fair share of this on worn cleat bolts on the bottoms of cycling shoes. 😉 With a Dremel, you could also put in a burr and grind the head off if you preferred that to drilling.

edit: I forgot my customary warning... the cutting wheels are very prone to shattering, so if you do this, wear eye/face protection! Two eyes per lifetime, maximum! :Q
 
Sears/Craftsman makes some special bits for this. I believe they're called "screw-outs". You can use them in a cordless drill/screwdriver to back out a screw with a stripped head. They sell a 3 piece set for about $20.
 
You may not need to drill the whole screw out. Just drill the head of the screw off, leaving the threaded stud part of screw. Remove item that was screwed down. You should now have a stud sticking up from the base that you can grip with a good pliers or vise grips.

Another thing that helps loosen screws and bolts is to hold a punch over the top of the bolt or screw and rap it with a hammer. The vibration will help loosen the threads. Use care when doing this with plastic items. You also want to do this before the head of the screw gets completely rounded out. Good luck!
 
Long shot here, sometimes even a different sized phillips head helps. Try some different screwdrivers, may not work but it is easy.
 
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