How to Unscrew a screw with a broken head

Buy a screwdriver. A screwdriver is a hand tool that pushes the screwdriver head deeper into the screw by pressing and springing. This method is effective for solid structures, but can damage electronics or other fragile devices. If you’re afraid of damaging things, avoid using cheap screwdrivers with stiff springs, as they require strong hammering to work. ^[4]

• Electric screwdrivers should not be used as excessive force may damage the surrounding material.

Set the screwdriver to the screw opening mode. Some models have a toggle switch. But with some other models, you have to rotate the handle to change the direction of rotation.

Bring the screwdriver into position. Insert the screwdriver of the appropriate size into the machine. Insert the screwdriver head into the screw and hold the machine perpendicular to the surface of the screw. Hold the camera at the center point and keep your hands away from the rear of the camera.

• The screwdriver head used to attach to the screwdriver usually has a very high hardness to meet the job requirements. ^[5]

Use a rubber hammer to knock on the back of the machine. Hit the back of the machine hard with a heavy rubber hammer. Use a rubber hammer to avoid scratching the screwdriver.

Check the direction of rotation of the screwdriver. Some screwdrivers vibrate and slip out of place with each knock. ^[6] Reset the machine to “relaxed” mode if necessary.

Repeat until the screw is loosened. Once the screw is loosened, you will use a regular screwdriver to remove it from the hole.

Buy a snail remover. If the screw head is worn but still intact, you should use a screw extractor. It’s basically a screwdriver head made from super hard metal, with a reverse thread on the tip. This is one of the most suitable ways to remove a loose screw, but with caution. If the tool tip breaks in the screw, you will have to hire a mechanic to take care of the rest. To reduce this risk, you should choose a screw extractor that is no larger than 75% of the diameter of the screw body (not the head). ^[7]

• For Torx screws or keyhole screws with a protruding cylinder body, a multi-tooth extractor is recommended. This tool fits over the screw head, and is held in place by the teeth on the inside. Instead of following the instructions below, you’ll tap this screw extractor, then rotate it to remove the screw.

Punch a hole in the center of the screw head. Place the tool in the center of the screw head. Hit the tip of the screwdriver with a hammer to create an indentation that guides the drill bit.

• Wear eye protection to avoid splashes of metal. Always wear eye protection while working.

Drill a hole in the screw head. Use drill bits designed for hard metals. Screw extractors often have the drill bit size listed on the tool body. Drill slowly and steady the drill with pressure if possible. Start drilling a hole 3-6mm deep; Drilling too deeply can break the screw. ^[8] It’s better to start with a small drill to create a path for a larger drill.

Use a copper hammer to drive the screw extractor into the screw. The super hard metal of the screw extractor is quite brittle, so a steel or iron hammer can break the tool. Close until the tool grips the hole just drilled.

Carefully rotate the screw extractor. If the torque is too large or uneven, the tool may break and make the situation even more difficult. The safest way is to use a handle that fits snugly against the tip of the screwdriver to remove the tool and any screws stuck to it. Drilling inherently loosens the screw, so you can usually get it out without much force. ^[9]

• Some extractor kits are sold with a nut that fits onto the tip of the tool. Use two wrenches to tighten the nut to an angle of 180º to make the torque more balanced.

Heat the snail if you can’t get it out. If the screw is not inflated or you are afraid the extractor will break, remove the extractor. Heat the screw, then put paraffin wax or water on the screw to lubricate the thread. Use a snail extractor to try again when the snail has cooled down. ^[10]

• Be careful not to damage the surrounding material. Whether you’re working with metal, it’s best to use a heat gun or torch when propane is used. Continuously move the burner around the snail to avoid burning in any position for more than a second. ^[11]

Attach the nut to the screw with epoxy glue. Find a nut that is the same diameter as the head. Glue them together with a two-component epoxy metal-to-metal adhesive. Wait for the glue to dry according to the instructions on the package, then use the wrench to open the nut.

• If you can’t find the right size nut, you can stick a smaller nut on top of the nut. But a small nut will not produce as much torque as a properly sized nut.

Drill destroys the screw head. Destroying the screw head will usually release pressure on the body of the snail, making it easier to pull the screw out – but if that doesn’t work, you’ve given up all other options. Choose a drill bit that is slightly larger than the screw body, so the screw head will come apart completely when you drill through it. Begin to make a hole in the center of the screw, and carefully drill through this closed hole. ^[12] When the screw head is completely detached, clamp the screw body with dead pliers and rotate it counterclockwise.

• If the screw head is not flat, file or grind it with a grinder to create a flat surface. Then, punch a hole in the center and drill through it.