How to Drill Out a Broken Screw Without Damaging Your Project

What is a Screw?

When Screws Were Invented?

• 400 BCE: Archytas of Tarentum, a Greek philosopher known as the "father of mechanics," is credited with inventing the screw thread in 400 BC.
• Early Applications: Even before the screw thread, the fundamental principle was applied in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Cities like Pompeii, for example, used screw concepts to extract liquids with equipment such as the Archimedean screw.
• Metal Screws: While wooden screws existed previously, metal screws for fastening objects first appeared in Europe in about the 15th century.
• Mass Production: Large-scale screw production occurred much later, in the late 18th century.

What are Screws Made of?

• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel has exceptional corrosion resistance, making it appropriate for use outdoors or in damp situations.
• Brass: Brass is a corrosion-resistant and machinable metal that is commonly utilized in electrical and decorative applications.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is lightweight and suitable for situations where weight is an issue, but it may be less robust than steel.
• Titanium: Titanium has a high strength-to-weight ratio and great corrosion resistance, but it is the most expensive alternative.

How is a Screw Made?

• Wire drawing: The metal is formed into a long, thin wire.
• Heading: The screw head is made by hammering or upsetting the wire's end.
• Threading: The shaft's helical threads are created using rolling or cutting tools.
• Pointing: The screw's tip is designed to allow for easy entry.
• Finishing: To prevent corrosion, the screw might be coated with a protective layer.

Are Screws Recyclable?

Video related to How To Remove Stripped Screws

How Screws Work?

1. Turning the Screw: To impart a turning force, rotate the screwdriver in the head.
2. Threads Act as Inclined Planes: With each turn, the screw is pushed upwards along the threads, similar to a little ramp.
3. Lever Advantage: The distance between the screwdriver handle and the screw head generates leverage, which increases the effort driving the screw in.
4. Gripping and Holding: As the screw penetrates deeper, the threads bite into the material, forming a strong grasp that keeps objects together.

How to Measure Screws？

Are Screws Better than Nails?

• Stronger Holding Power: The threads have a firmer hold on the material, making them perfect for applications that require a more secure connection.
• Removable: Screws can be simply unscrewed if you need to disassemble something for repair or adjustment.
• More Resistant to Pulling: Screws are more resistant to pulling pressures than nails, making them appropriate for applications where items may try to fall apart.
• Greater Variety: Screws come in a greater range of sizes, head types, and materials to meet various requirements.

• Slower Installation: Driving screws normally takes longer than hammering nails, especially if predrilling is required.
• Cost: Screws often cost more than nails.
• Potential for stripping: Overtightening a screw can damage the head or threads, making removal difficult.

• Faster Installation: Nails are easier to hammer in, making them perfect for large-scale applications.
• Lower Cost: In general, nails are less expensive than screws.
• Good for Shear Strength: Nails can withstand forces attempting to slide two linked components past each other.

• Weaker Holding Power: Nails are less resistant to pulling forces than screws.
• Difficult to Remove: Removing nails frequently destroys the material and might be difficult.
• Limited Reusability: Nails frequently bend when removed, rendering them useless.
• Less Variety: Nails often come in fewer head styles and are made of metal.

Can Screws Be Used for Framing?

When Screws are Stripped?

• Locking Pliers: Using locking pliers, grab the shank as close to the material's surface as feasible. To remove it, apply delicate yet forceful pressure and twist counterclockwise (a normal screw).

• Slotted Screwdriver: If a flathead screwdriver still fits in the remaining slot, apply downward pressure while spinning counterclockwise to increase grip and hopefully back it out.

• Vice Grips: If the broken screw shank is long enough, clamp it using vice grips and spin counterclockwise to remove it.

• Screw Extractor: This specialist tool has a tapered spiral flute that bites into the broken screw.  First, drill a pilot hole in the center of the damaged screw before gripping and removing it with the extractor's reverse-turn drill setting.
• Easy-out: Like a screw extractor, but with a reversed thread that bites into and loosens the broken screw as you move it counterclockwise.  Again, a pilot hole is required before using the easy-out.

• Drilling it Out: If all else fails, you might have to drill out the entire screw. This is more difficult and requires precise drilling in the center of the screw to avoid injuring the surrounding material. To remove the screw in pieces, you will need to use increasingly larger drill bits.

• Work slowly and carefully: Avoid using excessive force or instruments that do not fit properly, since they can exacerbate the condition.
• Lubricate: Before attempting to remove the threads, apply a penetrating lubricant, such as WD-40, to assist the release of the hold.
• Right-sized tools: Make sure you're using the correct screwdriver or extractor size for the screw.
• Consider professional help: If screw removal is above your comfort level or the stakes are high, seek the services of a professional handyman or contractor.

Where are Screws Used?

Conclusion