How To Remove stripped screw without dremel?

J

John_94

Joined
Apr 27, 2020
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81
Hello! I managed to strip a screw. I don’t have a dremel, and I don’t want to buy one. I tried heating the nail, the rubber band trick and the EZout kit for a drill. None of it worked and I just made the stripped nail head just perfectly round.

any suggestions? It’s a T10
 
a set of grab its or easy outs will remove most screws with a stripped head. You may need the micro set for most knife screws. A set of vampire tools pliers can work on stripped screws but I have never used them on a knife.
 
Oh okay, well I have the EZout bits for stripped screws and it didn’t work at all. Also do you know where I can find a smaller set like you mentioned?
 
Is the screw in any way protruding from the scale?
Or is it completely flush?

If possible, try to use a fine, thin file, and cut across the head. Then a thin flathead screwdriver to loosen the screw.
 
I've done it with a drill. Last week actually. Used plain Dewalt drill bits. I drilled the head off. Then removed the scale. Unscrewed the rest of the screw with a pair of needle nose pliers. I just had to make sure the drill bit was the same, or a touch larger than the diameter of the threaded part of the screw since you don't want to make the scale hole any bigger.
 
John_94 said:
Oh okay, well I have the EZout bits for stripped screws and it didn’t work at all. Also do you know where I can find a smaller set like you mentioned?
Click to expand...
You need the tiny bits. I got mine at Rockler, but I think any serious woodworking supply source would have them. I use the Alden microGrabit set.
 
John_94 said:
Oh okay, well I have the EZout bits for stripped screws and it didn’t work at all. Also do you know where I can find a smaller set like you mentioned?
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly I got my micro sets on Amazon ... if not I ordered the others from Sears. I am not saying you did this but I know my nephew tried them and was having problems but he mistakenly ran the drill the wrong way to prepare the screw for removal, and I have talked to a few others on here that did the same thing. The Vampire Tools pliers (I used a small needle nose set) will work if you have good hand strength and can get on the screw head ... I just tried it on an old knife I had around to see.
 
For what it's worth, I don't use a drill with the extractor, especially with screws as small as you'd probably find on a knife. I put the piece in a vise and drill the required hole. I use a light brass hammer tap to "set" the extractor and an adjustable wrench to remove the screw. It's worked for me with screws as small as #2 up to 3/8". Every situation is unique.
 
John_94 said:
Oh okay, well I have the EZout bits for stripped screws and it didn’t work at all. Also do you know where I can find a smaller set like you mentioned?
Click to expand...

Not sure if there are quality ezout bits out there, especially for small screws, but the one I bought from HomeDepot is junk. josiahg52 josiahg52 method sounds better to me though if your knife is a valuable one, you may want to send to the manufacturer for help.
 
The small ones are EXTREMELEY fragile. If there's thread-locking compound or the screw is cross-threaded, they won't work, so they're limited in use. I think I picked them up at an electrical warehouse or a place that sold a lot of electrical and electronic pieces. It was in California.
 
If the points are worn off and it looks more like a hex now I've had some luck in removing it with a hex bit I don't mind ruining. If it's truly completely round as you said you will have to cut a slot somehow to grab on and twist it, otherwise it's not coming out without drilling it and replacing the hardware. If you can't find a friend with a dremel you may have to send it in for repair and hopefully they will fix it for you.

Can I ask what knife it is?
 
As they say you can always make things worse.

I've seen screws and bolts stripped or rounded out so badly the only fix was to weld a bit or other chunk of metal onto the face as use that to break it loose. The was secondary damage as a result though.
 
Rasmus80 said:
Is the screw in any way protruding from the scale?
Or is it completely flush?

If possible, try to use a fine, thin file, and cut across the head. Then a thin flathead screwdriver to loosen the screw.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it didn’t budge at all, so it’s still set into the scale. I just got skinny micarta scales for it, but just in case I want to sell it I want to have original scales damage free. But thank you for your input!
 
NorthernSouthpaw said:
I've done it with a drill. Last week actually. Used plain Dewalt drill bits. I drilled the head off. Then removed the scale. Unscrewed the rest of the screw with a pair of needle nose pliers. I just had to make sure the drill bit was the same, or a touch larger than the diameter of the threaded part of the screw since you don't want to make the scale hole any bigger.
Click to expand...
That sounds like it would work. Do you remember the bit size?
 
H
JJ_Colt45 said:
If I remember correctly I got my micro sets on Amazon ... if not I ordered the others from Sears. I am not saying you did this but I know my nephew tried them and was having problems but he mistakenly ran the drill the wrong way to prepare the screw for removal, and I have talked to a few others on here that did the same thing. The Vampire Tools pliers (I used a small needle nose set) will work if you have good hand strength and can get on the screw head ... I just tried it on an old knife I had around to see.
Click to expand...
I may have done it wrong. The box honestly didnt really have clear instructions. I ran both bits in reverse...
 
josiahg52 said:
For what it's worth, I don't use a drill with the extractor, especially with screws as small as you'd probably find on a knife. I put the piece in a vise and drill the required hole. I use a light brass hammer tap to "set" the extractor and an adjustable wrench to remove the screw. It's worked for me with screws as small as #2 up to 3/8". Every situation is unique.
Click to expand...
that would probably work, unfortunately I live in an apartment and don’t have a work bench or a garage for that matter haha. But I might try it out at work!
 
Harbor Freight has rotary tools like a dremel for as little as $10 a set. Not good for much, but it will slot a screw.
 
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