How to unscrew a screw without a screwdriver - 10 best methods with instructions

How to unscrew a bolt with broken edges?

Bolts with torn hexagon edges: how to unscrew them

1. in the cap you need to make a small notch for a flat screwdriver. Try to unscrew the bolt with a screwdriver;
2. use a TORX sprocket to remove the bolt. ...
3. a drill with a drill or special extractors will help solve this problem.

21 Sep.
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Why is a rusty bolt or nut difficult to unscrew?

Any metal fastener inevitably undergoes corrosion and rust over time. The process is accelerated if the bolts and nuts are often exposed to aggressive environments:

• contact with water;
• interaction with chemicals, including detergents;
• street dirt, dust, caustic salts - they accelerate the corrosion process.

Despite special protective coatings against rust, if the surface of the fastener has been even slightly damaged, then over time the process of destruction is inevitable.

After some time, the rusted bolt must be removed and replaced, but a problem often arises - it will not unscrew. Due to the oxidative processes of the metal, rust grows on fasteners and parts and the surfaces “grab” together. If this process develops at the location of the bolt thread, then the situation becomes even more difficult.

Removing the screw

Screws with torn edges cause a lot of trouble. Unscrewing such screws is not easy, but there are several ways to solve this problem. To make it easier to unscrew them, you need to do the same preparatory measures as for the bolts.

In the simplest case, when the screw protrudes above the surface, you can try to grab it with pliers, wire cutters or another similar tool and unscrew it in this way. But most often there is nothing to grab onto. Then you can try the following methods:

1. Sometimes it helps to use thin rubber, for example, from a balloon. A piece of such rubber is placed on top of the screw and unscrewed, pressing the screwdriver through it. This increases friction and prevents the screwdriver from slipping.
2. A screw with a curly head can be converted into a flat-head screwdriver by sawing through the groove with a hacksaw.
3. In order to solve the problem of a screwdriver slipping, you can use cyanoacrylic-based glue; this glue dries quickly and holds metal surfaces together efficiently. The procedure is simple: the screw and screwdriver are degreased, glue is applied to the head of the screw and the screwdriver is pressed against it, maintaining alignment. To speed up the setting of the glue, you can sprinkle it with soda. Wait until the glue has completely hardened and try to unscrew the screw.

In order to avoid such problems in the future, renew all threaded connections with taps or taps before assembly. Replace any damaged fasteners. Be sure to lubricate the threads and fasteners in general. It is best to use graphite lubricant for these purposes.

How to unscrew an asterisk bolt with torn edges?

As an option. If the head is not flush, then you can use a hacksaw blade to cut a slot for a flat-head screwdriver and try to unscrew it that way. Before doing this, the bolt should be warmed up with a technical hair dryer or a soldering iron of sufficient power, this should make the work easier. If the head is large enough, then you can also try simply turning the bolt with pliers, holding it tighter.

If the hat is flat or completely recessed, then everything will be much more complicated.

For this purpose, I took a suitable flat bit from a screwdriver, so that it fit very tightly into the hexagon, carefully hammered it in with a hammer, and then tried to turn it using pliers.

It’s even better to use special extractors for unscrewing bolts; they are sold in the form of various sets or even individually.

A bolt is a fastener with an external thread.

It can consist of two elements, the rod itself with a thread and a head and a nut, or it can be screwed into a hole with an internal thread, that is, there is no nut at the end.

The so-called “asterisk” can be external,

If it’s external (external), then you’ll need a hammer; use it to tap the bolt a little, but without fanaticism.

Penetrating liquid VD-40, it will make it easier to unscrew the bolt.

And these plumbing pliers,

If the nut is not at the end of the bolt, then use the same pliers to hold the head, and unscrew the nut with open-end wrenches of the required size.

If the “star” is internal, then you can make a straight cut using a flat screwdriver; you will need a hacksaw, or an angle grinder with a cutting disc, or a sharp chisel, the same hammer, VD-40, and a screwdriver.

In the most extreme case (nothing helps), the bolt can be drilled out; here you need a drill and metal drill bits.

Another option is to unscrew the bolt with the internal sprocket, which is what I actually used.

Armed with a Dremel, I placed a small abrasive disc on it. On the round head of the bolt with an internal sprocket, I made two edges for an open-end wrench of ten millimeters. I simply sawed off two semi-ovals on opposite sides. Unscrewed it with a regular key. This can be done with an ordinary angle grinder or even an iron file. In the picture below, the red areas show some of the metal being removed from the bolt head.

There is another way to unscrew bolts with an internal hexagon or asterisk, but with torn edges. This is a paste that increases the adhesion of mating parts. Quite easy to use, does not require long hardening, adhesion is very good - a tool (a Phillips screwdriver, a hexagon or an asterisk attachment “sticks” into the slot perfectly). If you use it according to the instructions, there will be no paste left on the instrument.

Useful tips

Before deciding to use drastic measures to unscrew a stripped screw, inspect the back surface of the structure. Of course, if you have access to it. It is likely that the fastener has gone through and can be grabbed with pliers and forcibly unscrewed. Be sure to ensure that the threads are threaded in the correct direction, as the screw can have either left-handed or right-handed threads.

In the case when, after removing a broken screw, a larger hole remains in the body of the base, the assembly can be strengthened with larger hardware and sealant. An alternative solution is a fastener consisting of a bolt, washer and nut.

To facilitate the process of unscrewing a broken screw, it is necessary to reduce the friction force. You can use various lubricants, for example, WD-40. After removing the deformed hardware, the grease must be removed and the hole used to install a new screw.

And finally - remember about safety precautions! Deformed screws develop burrs and other damage that can lead to injury. You should work carefully, carefully, using personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles.

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01.04.2020

Methods for unscrewing a screw without a screwdriver

Let's consider the most effective methods depending on the specific type of slot. Let's start with the cruciform.

Step 1. First, note that some screws may have one recess on the head longer than the other. If so, then you should only work with a longer recess to make the task easier. Let us also add that the edges of these recesses can be worn down, and therefore you should work carefully, otherwise you can damage the product.

Step 2. One of the easiest ways is to use a coin. The method often works only with small screws. The coin must be inserted into the groove and then turned counterclockwise.

Step 3. You can try to unscrew a loose screw with your fingernail. The steps are the same as in the previous method.

You can try to unscrew the screw with your fingernail

Step 4. Take a knife, place it in the recess (long if they are different lengths) and twist. Be careful, because if the screw is tightly tightened and the knife you are using is of poor quality, then it (the knife) can be bent without achieving the desired result.

Using a knife to remove a Phillips head screw

Step 5: Use the old CD. Place its edge in the groove and turn it. The CD itself may suffer as a result of such manipulations, so make sure in advance that it is no longer needed. This method will definitely not help with a tightly tightened screw.

Using an old CD

Step 6. You can cut a long groove on the head with a hacksaw, but this method is effective only when the hardware is not completely twisted, that is, if the head protrudes somewhat above the surface. Hold the saw at a right angle to the head, saw slowly and carefully. Next, when the groove is ready, the screw can be unscrewed with a flat-head screwdriver or improvised means (for example, a credit card).

A long groove is sawed on the head of the screw

Step 7. Take a flathead screwdriver of the appropriate size if you don't have a Phillips head screwdriver. Typically, this can only work with large/medium diameter screws. Be careful not to tear off the edges of the slot!

You can try to unscrew the cross-head screw with a flat-head screwdriver

Step 8: Another option is to use a toothbrush. Melt one end of it with a lighter, then immediately insert it into the recess on the screw head. After waiting a bit for the melted plastic to harden, turn the brush counterclockwise. Of course, this will not help if the screw is tightened too tightly.

Unscrewing a screw with a toothbrush

Step 1. As noted earlier, there is only one recess on the head of such a screw. If you do not have a flat-head screwdriver, you can unscrew the product using improvised means. Let's see how this can be done.

Flat head screws

Step 2. Use a credit card - insert it into the groove and try to turn it. Use only an unnecessary card, because it may well be damaged during unscrewing.

The screw is removed with a credit card

Step 3. You can also take the “ear” from a tin can (soda, beer). Insert the broken “ear” into the groove on the head of the hardware and twist.

Using the “ear” from a tin can

Step 4. Use a regular coin - insert it into the groove and try to turn it the same way.

The flat head screw can be removed with a coin.

Step 5. If the screw is not tightened very tightly, you can try to unscrew it with your fingernail. The method is not always effective due to obvious reasons.

Step 6. Try to unscrew the screw with a knife, inserting the blade of the latter into the groove. There will be a risk that you will bend the knife.

The knife blade is inserted into the recess and scrolled counterclockwise

Step 7. The last method is to use pliers. Suitable if the screw is not completely tightened. It is advisable to use needle-nose pliers for this rather than regular ones.

A flat-head screw is opened with pliers

Step 1. We are talking about screws with a six-pointed star recess on the head. Such screws, by the way, are protected - with a rod in the center of the star. In any case, proceed with caution, because the edges of such a slot can easily be damaged.

Torx screw

Step 2. Try using a flathead screwdriver. Insert its tip into a pair of opposite rays, carefully scroll counterclockwise. And if the screw is protected, then insert the screwdriver between the rod and any of the beams, and scroll in the opposite direction.

Use a small flathead screwdriver

Step 3. To unscrew a protected Torx screw, try using a screwdriver for an unprotected one, but in this case the rod on the head will have to be removed (this can be done, for example, using a center punch and a hammer).

Removing the center shank on the head of a secure Torx screw

Another possible option is to drill a hole on the tip of a regular screwdriver for the star rod.

Drill a hole in a screwdriver for a regular Torx screw

Step 4. Finally, you can use the same toothbrush by melting one end with a lighter (proceed in the same way as described in one of the previous methods).

Using the same toothbrush

Let's say right away that small screws are especially difficult to unscrew without having the appropriate tools on hand. As a rule, such screws are found in various electronic devices. Ideally, tools designed for repairing glasses should be used for unscrewing (there will be no difficulties in finding them, and they are not very expensive). If such equipment is not available, resort to one of the methods described below.

Unscrewing small screws

Recommendations for working with screw heads and self-tapping screws

While performing the above work, in order to get the expected result and avoid injury, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Before attempting to unscrew the screw, you need to inspect the back side of the workpiece. If its end peeks out of it, then you can try to unscrew it from this side, and when the head is free, grab it with pliers;
• you need to decide whether the thread on the fastener is right-handed or left-handed in order to unscrew the screw or self-tapping screw in the correct direction;
• after the screw has been unscrewed, you can ensure reliable fastening in this place using a larger self-tapping screw or you can use a bolt with a nut;
• When using the described methods, nicks and chips are formed, so in order to avoid injury, you must work with protective glasses and gloves.

There are no lose-lose situations. If there is a problem with unscrewing a screw, screw or self-tapping screw, you need to assess the situation, choose one of the described methods, and then use it to remove the fastener.

Preparatory activities

It is better to prevent any problem than to solve it. Therefore, if you have applied sufficient force and the fastener has not moved, you do not need to continue until you completely damage it. Better do the following:

1. First you need to remove the layer of rust and other contaminants. If the threaded part protrudes above the parts being fastened, clean it with a wire brush.
2. Take a hammer and tap the head. The blows should be quite strong. It's okay if you make small dents in the metal, but you shouldn't allow the fastener itself to bend. This procedure helps to disrupt the integrity of the oxides, so the positive effect will only be at the initial stage, when the head is pressed against the part. Once you have removed the bolt from its place, it is not recommended to knock on it, since there is a high probability that you will damage the threads, thereby complicating the situation even more.
3. Heating the attachment point gives very good results. All you need to do is heat the fastener and wait for it to cool. In this case, some of the substances burn out, the rust is destroyed, and the bolt is unscrewed with less effort. The heat must be strong. This can be done with a blowtorch, gas torch or acetylene torch. All use an open flame, so first ensure that you do not damage surrounding elements. Don't forget to follow safety regulations!
4. Lubricate the hardware with any easily flowing liquid. This can be a special composition such as WD 40, kerosene or brake fluid. Their peculiarity is that they penetrate into all pores and crevices, lubricate the threads, and some destroy rust. It takes some time for a positive effect to occur. It is usually recommended to wait about an hour and get to work. In difficult cases, you will need to wait 10-12 hours.