How to unscrew a heavily tightened screw. Ways to unscrew the bolt and screw with torn edges

The car has many parts connected to each other with screws, bolts and screws. Quite often, situations arise when the bolt head or slots on the screw, screw are licked off. Therefore, the question of how to unscrew a bolt or screw with licked edges is relevant for many motorists.

Why do the edges of a screw, screw or bolt stick together

Licking is the grinding of the edges of a bolt or a slot for a screwdriver on the head of a screw, screw or self-tapping screw. Both the master and the beginner can face such a problem. When the edges of the bolt are licked, the key begins to slip on it and it is not possible to unscrew such an element. For screws and screws, the slots on the head can be damaged, this also leads to turning the screwdriver and it is not possible to unscrew the damaged fasteners.

The reasons why the slots of a screw, screw or edge of a bolt, nuts can lick off:

• use of worn tools;
• improper use of a wrench or screwdriver;
• poor quality fastener.

If during unscrewing the fasteners a key or a screwdriver slipped through, do not panic and you need to figure out the reason. Sometimes it is enough to change a screwdriver or a key so that the problem is immediately solved.

Methods for loosening bolts, screws, screws with licked edges

If in the usual way it was not possible to unscrew the fasteners whose edges have fused, you can use one of several proven options.

This method is used when loosening bolts, as they have a protruding head that you can grab onto. For this:

The disadvantage of this method is that it is not always possible to get close to the desired bolt with a gas wrench.

Cutting new edges

If the bolt is large, then with the help of a grinder you can cut new edges on it. It is enough to make only 4 of them and, using an already smaller key, unscrew the bolt. It is possible to cut new edges on the bolt with a file, but this is more difficult and takes longer. On the head of a screw or screw, you can make a cut with a hacksaw or a grinder.

Hammer and chisel or impact screwdriver

This option is more suitable for licked nuts or fairly large screws. The chisel rests against the head of the fastener and, striking it with a hammer, gradually turn the screw or nut. Small screws or screws can be loosened with an impact screwdriver and a hammer. After loosening the fastening, the work is already done with a conventional screwdriver.

Band or piece of rubber

In this case, a small part of a medical tourniquet or a piece of dense rubber is used. The selected material is placed on top of the head of the screw or screw, after which it is pressed with a screwdriver and gradually turned. The presence of rubber will help increase friction and solve the problem.

Extractor

An extractor is a special tool that is used to loosen screws, bolts or screws with licked or broken heads.

The order of its application:

Video: unscrewing a licked screw with an extractor

Conventional or left hand drill

On sale there are left-handed drills with counterclockwise rotation. They improve the centering of the tool and reduce the load on the drill, resulting in higher productivity and drilling accuracy. By inserting such a tool into a drill, you can unscrew a screw or screw with a licked head. If there is no left-handed drill, you can try to drill out the stuck fasteners using a regular one. In this case, you need to take a drill with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bolt or screw. It is necessary to act carefully so that you do not have to cut threads for new fasteners later.

Glue

A nut of the appropriate diameter is fixed to the head of the problem screw or screw using epoxy glue or glue called "cold welding". After the glue securely fixes it, turn the nut with a wrench and unscrew the screw or screw with it.

Welding

If there is a welding machine nearby, then you can fix a new nut on the head of the bolt or screw by welding it. After that, it can be immediately unscrewed.

Solder and soldering iron

If you need to unscrew a small screw or screw, use a soldering iron and solder:

Video: ways to unscrew a bolt with licked edges

How to prevent tearing edges

So that such a problem as torn edges of a bolt or slots of a screw, a screw does not take you by surprise, you must follow simple rules:

• you need to buy only high-quality fasteners that have high strength and reliability;
• during tightening and loosening screws or screws, the screwdriver must not slip through the slots. This leads to their erasure and it will be difficult to unscrew such fasteners;
• You should always keep an eye on the condition of the instrument. If a screwdriver or wrench has licked edges, then it will be difficult to unscrew the screw, bolt or screw with their help.

It is much easier to prevent the edges on bolts, screws and screws from licking than to unscrew damaged fasteners later.

Do not panic when a problem such as a licked bolt head or slots on the screw head appears. There are many ways to solve it. It is necessary to adequately assess the situation that has arisen, and choose one of the available options.

Over time, the fasteners rust, so it is impossible to unscrew them with the help of improvised means, without making any effort. Many people face this problem. This is especially true for motorists, owners of private houses, where various iron structures are forgotten on the street, as well as those who start repairing and replacing old plumbing. It may seem too difficult for some, in fact, there are many ways to remove rusted nuts, bolts and screws without damage.

Causes of the problem

Rust can destroy any surface, especially metal. It appears if the part is in contact with water for a long time, salt, various contaminants get on it. Even ordinary dust can cause friction of the elements and exacerbate the situation. Any metal product has a special protective coating. If it has been damaged, then corrosion will form, due to which the mount ceases to perform its functions. Some metals do not react well to contact with oxygen or chemicals, which also causes rust.

To unscrew the mount, you need to create microscopic cracks in the rusty crust

Preparatory work

To reduce friction, aids must be used. At the same time, they must have such a consistency that they can get into any, even the smallest hole. There are many special tools on the market with which you can make your work easier. WD-40 liquid, which is available in the form of aerosols, has proven itself to be excellent. If it was not in the store, buy kerosene, turpentine or diesel fuel. It is enough to apply the product on the thread and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

Advice! Do not use lithol or grease, as the substance subsequently hardens, which makes it impossible to unscrew the fastener.

Versatile anti-rust material

Ways to unscrew rusted parts at home

Dismantling with a socket or ring wrench

If the rust layer is not too large, use a socket or box wrench. In this case, the tool must have 6 or 12 points of contact. Next, you need to alternately tighten and loosen the thread with fairly sharp movements. If this does not help, work the surface with a wire brush, and then apply one of the lubricants mentioned above. After the tool has started to work, take a hammer and lightly tap on the mount to knock off the top layer. Then use the key again, the clamp should loosen. To enhance the effect, you can put a pipe on the key or use a tool without a ratchet mechanism with a long handle. But be careful in your work, bad and old tools can break right in your hands.

Do not use brute force, otherwise the threads may be stripped.

Use muscle strength and this tool

Exposure of nuts and bolts to high temperatures

Alternatively, heat can be used to remove the part. Take a blowtorch and heat the mount with it. It is important to heat only one side of the bolt or nut so that it expands from the heat and damages the rust layer. If such a tool was not at hand, you can use an ordinary candle. After heating, pour cold water on the part, and then pick up the key again. The only disadvantage of such methods is that they spoil the hardening of the metal.

Do not use this method near flammable objects and rubber seals

Important! Some manipulations can be dangerous, so take precautions!

How to unscrew with a screwdriver using a mixture of gearbox oil and acetone

Effective is a mixture prepared by one's own hands. It consists of 50% automatic transmission oil and 50% acetone. It is necessary to use the lubricant several times over several hours, each time leaving it for at least 40 minutes. Sometimes the bolt is intended for a screwdriver, in which case take the same tool or a chisel and a hammer. Then, with the help of blows, try to loosen the fasteners. If you are not afraid of extreme methods, use zinc or sulfuric acid. Initially, you need to make a small rim of plasticine or wax around the fasteners. Then put a piece of zinc into the formed recess, pour a chemical element on top. In a day the problem will be solved. In the same way, you can unscrew the stuck screw on the mixer.

Twisting all the way

An important way is the so-called "method of the contrary": in order to loosen the fastening of a stuck part, you should not unscrew it, but on the contrary, try to twist it tighter to the end. So the course of the bolt or nut will become freer, which will ultimately help in removing the rusty mount.

Complete dismantling

If all these methods were unsuccessful, then the mount will need to be destroyed. This can be done in several ways. If you are working with a bolt, you need to drill it out and cut a new thread. You can also use a special tool, such as a nut puller. It tightens the part, it cracks under pressure, so that the nut can be removed with an ordinary wrench. The most radical way is to use a grinder. It is enough just to cut the bolt along using a metal disc.

Prevention is the best way to deal with rust. Always tighten fasteners to the same tightening torque of similar threaded connections, use good quality bolts, nuts and screws, and lubricate the part before tightening. Even if the part is new, it is better to clean it again. All this will avoid the moment when you have to resort to shock methods.

All the methods described above are quite effective, so you can safely use any of them. They have been tested by different masters and always gave a positive result. Using these tips, you can easily overcome the difficulties of stuck screws, bolts or nuts. And by taking preventive measures into account, you can avoid the recurrence of the problem.

When carrying out repair work, the question sometimes arises: how to unscrew a bolt or screw with torn edges. This problem has several solutions, knowing which you can unwind almost any hardware. Even in the case when you overdid it and tore off the head or broke the stud, there are ways and tools to unscrew the fragments of the fastener.

Any problem is better to prevent than to solve. Therefore, if you have applied enough force and the fastener does not budge, you do not need to continue until you damage it completely. Better do the following:

The above steps will not be superfluous in the case when you decide how to unscrew a bolt with torn edges.

Bolt removal methods

Below are the most effective ways to remove damaged bolts and screws.

With broken edges

When deciding how to unscrew a bolt with torn edges, you need to consider whether there is access to it, location, and also what tool you can use. Based on these factors, you can use one of the following methods:

In complex cases, in order to achieve the desired result, you need to combine several methods. Therefore, first assess the situation, decide how you can unscrew the bolt, and only then get to work.

With a broken head

Very often, when disassembling old threaded connections, you can not only damage the edges of the bolt, but also rip off the head. Then the question arises: how to unscrew the broken bolt. If you have separated the parts and the broken bolt protrudes from the body of the part, then you can use all of the above methods.

But how to unscrew a bolt with a stripped head if the bolt body does not protrude from the part? There are several options for solving this problem.

Precisely drilling a hole is quite difficult. And if you damaged the threaded connection, then you can correct the situation only by reaming the hole and threading a larger diameter.

A sheared stud is no different from a bolt with a stripped head, and therefore the methods for unscrewing it are the same.

Thread damage

There are times when the fastener thread is damaged. In this case, the hardware scrolls freely, but it cannot be removed from the threaded connection. To solve this problem, you need to lift the bolt. This can be done with a screwdriver or other similar tool that is pushed under the head and lifts it with effort. When the bolt rests, it begins to rotate in the direction of unscrewing. This is done until the hardware is completely removed. If the threaded connection hole is through, then it can be pushed from the back using any tool suitable for this.

If you have a similar problem with the nut, then proceed in the same way. Hardware with damaged threads must be replaced, therefore, if there is access, the nut can be cut off with a grinder or knocked down with a chisel.

Under an asterisk and a hexagon

Recently, fasteners with asterisk heads, hexagons and more exotic forms are increasingly used. If the edges on such fasteners are damaged, and you need to unscrew it, then you can act by analogy with ordinary bolts, with the only difference being that you need to use a tool with the appropriate shape of the edges to unscrew it.

Removing the screw

A lot of trouble is delivered by screws with torn edges. Unscrewing such screws is not easy, but there are several ways to solve this problem. In order 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 of the time there's nothing to grab on to. 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 by pressing a screwdriver through it. This allows you to increase friction and avoid slipping of the screwdriver.
2. A screw with a figured head can be converted into a flat screwdriver by sawing a groove with a hacksaw.
3. In order to solve the problem of screwdriver slippage, you can use cyanoacrylic adhesive, this adhesive dries quickly and fastens metal surfaces with high quality. The procedure is simple: the screw and screwdriver are degreased, glue is applied to the screw head and the screwdriver is pressed against it, observing alignment. To speed up the setting of the glue, you can sprinkle it with soda. Wait for the glue to harden completely and try to unscrew the screw.

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

How to unscrew screws with torn edges, 7 methods
In this video, I'll look at how to remove some stripped screws using everything from elastic band to a dedicated screw extractor. This video uses 7 methods
1. Rubber band
2. Impact screwdriver
3. Damaged screw extractor
4. Special tool "Grab it pro"
5. Left drill
6. Kern
7. Chisel

In this video, I will look at extracting several damaged screws. I screwed all eight of them into this metal plate. They are tightened and their head is sunken. Then I ripped off each screw head using the wrong bit. It's a cross head that requires a bit like a PH2. And for their rounding I used PZ2. And I actually did it by rotating them in the right direction, which tightens them up. So, all these screws are very tight, and all the heads are so damaged that you can't get them out with the right bit. I will show it to you. You can see that there is no chance to do anything with one of them, because the bat cannot capture any of the heads. This is a very common problem, for example you want to remove a euro cylinder from a PVC door. You will often find that people have damaged the screws, which can make it very difficult to get them out. Sometimes it's very easy and sometimes it's very difficult. It depends on a lot of factors.
It may surprise you, but one of the techniques I usually try is the rubber band. I saw this on another YouTube channel. And I watched it and didn't think it would work. And then I went to the house of a friend who had this round screw. I used a rubber band and that helped loosen the screw. So, this is the first thing we will try, because this is always the easiest way. So I put a rubber band on the screw. It would be better if you have a slightly wider elastic band than we have here. But it should still work. So I'll put pressure on him. I'll put the screwdriver on reverse. Now I'm going to push and pull the trigger. You can see that the rubber band allowed us to grab that screw, and that allowed us to get it out. If you look over there, you will see some rubber band there. So it's always the first thing I try because sometimes it works. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't, and it can save you a lot of hassle when trying to remove screws.
The next thing you can try is an impact screwdriver. You have to make sure you have a good quality bat in there. And also you need to make sure that the rotation is set in the right direction because you don't want to over tighten it. To use the tool, simply insert it into the damaged screw and then hit it from above with a good quality hammer. I think this will loosen the tightness. Thus, there is a chance that now we can unscrew it using a screwdriver. And as you can see, this loosened the screw enough that we were able to unscrew it. Thus, an impact screwdriver is a very useful tool, because when struck and trying to rotate in the right direction, it often helps to get a damaged screw out. If you look at it, you will see that it is very badly damaged. You can buy destructive screw removers like this one and they often work on these screws. And they are worth the money. You can usually pick them up for around £10-15. So I just fixed the bit in the chuck. Then I check that the rotation will be reversed. And then choose one of them. You need to push hard and pull the trigger slowly. And eventually it will bite and hopefully unscrew the screw. You can see that this bit makes it very easy to unscrew it very quickly.
We purchased Grabit. The Grabit model is a very high-quality tool for twisting. It really works really well and I've used them on some wood screws and it even worked with them. So this works very well. I have two of these sets. And they do a super job of removing damaged screws.
To use this, first you use this end in reverse or counter-clockwise rotation, this will remove some of the material of the screw. Then you turn it and that bit bites the screw and backs it out on reverse. Sometimes when you use this, this part really grips so well that it cuts the screw and unscrews it. So we will try this. I have a screwdriver on the reverse. I press hard on him. And, as you can see, he unscrewed the screw. And there is no way to grab this screw with a Phillips screwdriver. On the inside, the edges are completely rounded. You can use a center punch and hammer, or you can use a center striker like this which is spring loaded. They are very useful for such tasks, and you can apply them in a bottleneck. So to apply this, you need to put it on the edge of the screw, pull it back, and then the momentum from the spring will cause the striker to move forward and unscrew the screw. You can see that once we have this we can grab the screw with our fingers and unscrew it. As you can see there is no chance of unscrewing this with a screwdriver but using something like this you can actually loosen it so you can grab it with your fingers or pliers.
If you can purchase any of these, you can use left hand drills. They are designed for reverse rotation applications. And all we have to do is select a bit that is slightly smaller than the head on the screw, and then press the bit against it, then set the reverse, and then turn on and push the bit. The drill will start drilling the screw, but as soon as it bites the screw, there is a very good chance that it will unscrew the screw. Like this. So this is another method you can use to remove a damaged screw.
Another thing you can try is carving a notch into the head with an angle grinder or chisel, but you need to be careful not to damage the surrounding material. Another thing you can use is a chisel and a hammer. And often you can tap it enough to unscrew it. And again we can take it with our fingers. So hopefully this video has shown you some of the methods you can use to remove damaged head screws. I would just like to point out that if you try to remove a wood screw that is four inches long and its head has been damaged, you have little to no chance of doing so. In most cases, if you try to unscrew it, you will simply pull the head off the screw. But when you're doing the job, like removing euro cylinders from doors and the like, or if someone has ripped off the edges of a screw using the wrong screwdriver, then these are a few methods you can use. I hope you enjoyed watching this video and if you haven't already, please subscribe to the channel.

When the screw in the thread scrolls normally, it is unscrewed with a screwdriver or screwdriver.
But how do aircraft with non-loosening propellers get out?

Screws can turn sour in the thread due to corrosion, they can dry out due to flooding during painting (paint flows under the screw head and dries there).

For reasons of minimizing damage to surrounding elements, it is best to try to unscrew the screw.
If the screw does not turn with a screwdriver or screwdriver, you must try to prevent the tool from slipping out of the slot. When it jumps out, it usually damages the spline along the way, and the screw can no longer transmit that torque, as with an intact spline.
Therefore, it is important to preserve the slots on the head of the screw, and therefore the bit or screwdriver must match the size and type of the slot of the screw and not dangle in it.

If you try to unscrew the screw and it does not turn, then you do not need to rape it a hundred times in the same way.
We must try to press the tool and transfer the maximum possible moment.
For pressing, a screwdriver is no longer very convenient, and I use a brace or a ratchet with a long handle (1/2 ″ square).
There are rotaries of a meter or more in length with two handles of half a meter. If it is conveniently and evenly pressed against the screw, then they sometimes manage to remove the stuck screw. We don't have those now.

To increase the friction in the spline, we have a special paste:

Judging by the sensations, it consists of a fine abrasive powder with some kind of liquid binder.
We apply it to the slot of the screw, press the brace or ratchet well, and try to turn it.
Usually it turns out much better than without pasta.
The blue drop on the left below the tube is a little of that paste.

The paste really helps to keep the tool in the slot.
I found a similar paste at Liqui Moly - its article is 3811. They write that it increases friction five times.
It is especially effective to use it in conjunction with bits that have notches on the working surfaces.

If this method does not help, but the slots are still not completely torn off, we begin to work under duress.

This, in fact, is a lever that allows you to significantly increase the pressure on the unscrewed screw, and not allow the bit to jump out of the slot.
This device only works when there is something to rest against.
Normally, to use it, you need to have at least one unscrewed screw not far from the problematic one.
A threaded adapter is screwed into the thread of the unscrewed screw:

, and the hinge of the lever is screwed into the other end of the adapter:

(bottom left corner of photo)
Then we bring the moving part to the screw and insert the bit in the fixture chuck into the slot of the screw.

It would be nice to put a drop of the same paste into the slot.

We strongly press the other end of the lever, and with an open-end wrench we turn the hexagon of the device with a bat.
Usually, there is nothing to oppose the screws against such scrap, and they are unscrewed.

Devices based on this principle can have a different design and different efficiency.
I remember that the Rossiya airline had a device of a similar principle of operation, but much less; called Vera Quick.

You can also spray WD-40 on the threads, but in our work, to access the back of the screw, you usually need to remove the panel that it holds :)
I also sometimes tap the screw head through the punch with a hammer. In doing so, I hope to slightly move the screw along the axis and break up the dried paint under its head. I don't know how effective it is.

If these measures do not help, and the splines are torn off, then the next step is to use an extractor.

In the head of the screw, a hole of a slightly smaller diameter is drilled directly along the axis than the screw itself.
Then, with such a knob, an extractor is screwed into this hole.
It has a left hand thread with sharp edges.

When the knob is rotated counterclockwise, the extractor is screwed into the hole and pulls the screw to unscrew.
This usually helps to unscrew it quickly enough.
Well-sharpened metal drills and new extractors are needed for work - then there are usually no problems.

When the tool is bad, it happens that the core helps.
I drill a small, preferably blind, hole in the head of the screw right next to its edge.
Then I attach a core to the hole tangentially to the circumference of the cap and hit it with a hammer, trying to move the screw counterclockwise.
This method is inconvenient (the core breaks), and in the presence of a normal tool, it does not come to it.

As the most extreme way to eliminate an interfering screw, you can drill out its head.
This is not very good, since it is easy to damage the panel itself, which is held by the screw. Most of the panels are plastic.
After removing the panel, you can try to unscrew the screw by grasping the protruding piece of his body with pliers. This is not always possible, since the approaches are very uncomfortable both from the front and from the back.

In my experience, the propellers on the A320 turn sour much less frequently than on the B737.
The situation is especially sad on the 737 Classic. I think this is largely due to the age of such aircraft. It happens that up to a third of the screws on the panel cannot be unscrewed simply with a screwdriver or screwdriver. And the panels there are rich in screws :)

Probably, experienced locksmiths know and are able to do many other ways to unscrew the screws, but I described those that I used myself.
And yes - in my practice, an impact screwdriver has never helped to unscrew the screw.