#Bolt extractor how to

Before doing so, though, here’s a quick overview of the winners. I will also tell you how I chose the featured products and what other products I considered. In this article, I will briefly review what I consider to be the best bolt and screw extractors for a variety of different purposes. That’s why, if you use a lot of screws and bolts, you will want to keep a tool designed to remove them when they cannot be loosened the standard way handy. While there are several ways to remove them, the process can get frustrating without the right tool. No matter how good your technique is, you will strip a screw or break a bolt from time to time. As such, it will help you remove virtually any fastener you might damage while working on your projects. It’s a quality product made by a household name that includes various sizes of three different types of extractors. Once you feel the extractor take hold, continue turning counterclockwise and pull to completely remove the stripped or broken screw.In a hurry? If you’re looking for a comprehensive set of bolt and screw extractors, I highly recommend checking the Irwin Tools Hanson Master Extraction Set. As you turn the screw extractor, its threads will draw it in until it bites into the hole.

#Bolt extractor how to

How to use a screw extractor will depend on the particular model you’ve chosen, but you’ll likely employ either a wrench or drill to turn the tool counterclockwise.

Step 5įinally, insert the tip of your handy screw extractor into the bored hole. Drill about 1/8 to 1/4 inch into the screw head the depth will depend on the size of the screw extractor you’re using. Drill slowly and carefully, making sure to keep the drill and bit aligned straight with the screw. Step 4Īlign the drill bit with the punched spot on the screw head.

If the stripped screw is rusted or affixed to metal, place a small drop of penetrating oil on the threads to help loosen its grip. Apply a small drop of thread cutting oil to the head of the broken screw for easier drilling. Select a drill bit that is smaller in diameter than the screw or fastener, and secure it to the power drill. You want to create a small indentation in the center of the screw to help guide the drill bit. Tools & MaterialsĪlign the center punch with the center of the stripped or broken screw, and lightly strike it with a hammer. Once you’ve snagged one as an immediate fix (and future repair tool), read on for the guidelines on how to use a screw extractor and save the day. A selection of screw extractors can be found in most hardware stores-whether brick and mortar or online-available in many different sizes to accommodate a wide assortment of screw sizes. When you put it to use, the extractor penetrates a hole punched or drilled in the top of the screw and its reversed threads grab hold so that the screw can be twisted out. While the specific design of this inexpensive implement varies, it most commonly takes the form of a tapered drill bit with a reversed thread. Enter a seasoned DIYer’s go-to tool: a screw extractor. Even worse, the odds of removing the screw decrease each time the screwdriver slips in the slots.

Stripped screws commonly occur when you’re dealing with worn or weathered fasteners, such as those found on door hinges, cabinet hinges, and door strike plates. And, once you’ve managed to damage or warp a screw head, it’s almost impossible to get that screw out with a common Phillips-head or flat-blade (slotted) screwdriver. At some point in the never-ending list of do-it-yourself projects, nearly every handy homeowner encounters a stripped screw-and this small obstacle can turn even the most straightforward home improvement project into a drawn-out affair.