This option is always worth a try when you’re looking at how to remove a stripped screw. If the screw head is meant for a Phillips head screwdriver, try using a flat head version. While this can work, there are a couple of things to keep in mind: You need to choose a flathead screwdriver that is skinny enough to fit entirely within the Philips head slot. Besides aesthetics, another advantage of using grub screws (with no leading or trailing edge exposed at the head end) is that they can often offer better resistance to weathering and corrosion as a result. They can also be driven with considerably more torque force than traditional screws, as the uniform diameter right the way along the full length of the grub screw shaft means that they don’t begin to split the hole apart as they go in further. Instead, the the surrounding material into which the set or grub screw is driven will work to reinforce the fastening as it goes in. No, we’re not suggesting that you try to bash it out with a hammer, but it could be that the screw became stripped because it’s made of a softer metal. In this case, it’s worth trying to tap the screwdriver into the metal with a hammer. Position the screwdriver over any remaining indent and then hammer it into the metal as best you can. Doing this can push the screwdriver in firmly enough that you can twist it to get the screw out. Put Your Dremel to Use

You might wonder how drilling a hole in a stripped screw will help you remove it, but sometimes the little hole is just enough to give the screwdriver a better grip. You’ll need a drill bit made for metal and some caution: You don’t want to drill down too far into the stripped screw or you might break off the top. Try a Different Screwdriver The most obvious point of distinction between grub screws and other types of standard screws and bolts is that true grub screws tend not to feature a protruding head. Instead, they’re usually threaded right to the top, and are the same diameter all the way along their length, meaning that the grub screw can be fully driven into its hole to sit flush with (or even countersunk into, depending on the application) the workpiece. Another option for removing a stripped screw is to try using a larger driver bit in your drill. Choose one that’s a little larger than what you would use for the screws. Sometimes, this spreads the pressure across the screw head a little more and helps get the screw turning. Just Pull it Out! knurled point grub screws, which do much the same as cup point versions but also feature a serrated end for additional friction/grip You can apply a penetrating lubricant to help reduce and remove any rust or corrosion present around the threads of the grub screw prior to startingInsert the correct kind of drive for the type of grub screw in question, and make sure it is securely seated

When buying grub screws or set screws from most manufacturers and suppliers to the UK market, you'll usually find up to six different variants of grub screw shapes on offer. These include: One of the most effective methods for how to remove a stripped screw is to use a rubber band. All you have to do is place a rubber band over the top of the screw that’s stripped and won’t come out. cup point grub screws, which offer much the same function as cone point varieties but can be driven still further to provide even more torque and gripping force cone point tip grub screws, which are ideal for exerting additional force when joining items made from softer materials, or to fit into an existing depression in the piece being mated to While it’s called a screw extractor kit, this is basically a set of special drill bits that have two ends and are made specifically for this job. One end is for drilling into the top of the stripped screw to make a depression. Then, all you have to do is switch the bit to the extraction part and then drill in reverse to remove the screw. This works very well but only helps if you happen to have one on hand. That said, they are not expensive and are a good addition to any tool kit. Use a Specialty Product

Get On With Your Project

Whether you’re a DIY veteran or a newbie weekend warrior when it comes to minor tasks around the house, it’s inevitable that you’ll one day strip a screw. Using any one of these techniques can help you easily extract the screw and get on with the work. What Is a Stripped Screw? When that happens it doesn’t have to ruin the day or your project because there are a number of ways to remove a stripped screw. Set screws often do feature a head - very likely a hex fitting - but without a threadless section immediately below it (again, this is different to the length of unthreaded shank you’d typically find on a standard bolt). Because they often feature no protruding screw head in the traditional sense, true grub screws tend to be driven by means of a sunken internal recess at what is still generally referred to as the ‘head end’. However, the basic steps to removing a grub screw will be largely similar to those required for removing any other type of threaded fastener:

If it won’t budge and needs to be drilled out, start by taking an awl or centre punch and using it with a hammer to make a small indentation in the visible end of the grub screw - this will help reduce the risk of the drill bit from slipping or wandering while you drill through the metal As you might imagine (or not) there’s a specialty product for just about everything these days. How to remove a stripped screw is no exception liquid products such as Screw Grab, DriveGrip, and others can be a handy thing to keep on hand if you’re a committee DIY enthusiast. Most are a liquid that you put on the crew to create more grip and friction between the screwhead and the screwdriver and they do work best on screws that aren’t entirely stripped. Essentially, it’s the same concept as using a rubber band or steel wool. There isn’t much you can do with a stripped screw once you remove it. But you have options to use the hole of the stripped screw still. Depending on how the screw sits in the hole, it may be possible to pull it out with a pair of pliers. Look at how closely how the screw head sits in the hole. Is there any space between the screw and the surface?If you are a building or crafting enthusiast you probably own an oscillating tool like a Dremel, which can help you solve your stripped screw problem. All you need to do is attach the metal-cutting disc and use it to make a new, deeper slot in the top of the screw. Then, just grab your flathead screwdriver, firmly insert it into the new slot and twist. Get a Screw Extractor Kit Typical examples of uses for grub screws might include any situation where one object or component needs to clamp to another tightly via friction, but where protruding parts of the fastener would interfere with smooth functioning of the items in question. Grub screws for this purpose are especially widely used in architectural ironmongery, and are a very common feature found wherever door handles are attached to spindle shafts.