Quite often it happens that the fasteners break down during the construction work. Usually this happens at the most inopportune moment when you need to have time to complete the business on time. How to unscrew a screw with torn edges? Why are there such troubles? What solutions fix the problem? We will talk about all this later in the article.
Why do the edges on the fasteners break down?
Before figuring out how to unscrew a screw star with torn edges, we outline a number of reasons why the problem arises. Most often, the use of a low-quality tool causes trouble. We are talking about the use of a screwdriver or a screwdriver tip with an insufficiently sharp sting. In this case, the tight contact of the tool with the notches of the fastener disappears. Therefore, so that in the future you don’t have to bother with the question of how to unscrew a screw with torn edges, you must make sure that the tip of the screwdriver is completely immersed in the grooves before performing work.
Another reason is the failure to comply with the technology of screw fastening. A nuisance arises when the contractor does not press enough on the tool. Sometimes the problem is the location of the screwdriver tip at an angle to the head of the screw.
It is easy to guess that this can happen due to the low quality of the materials from which the fasteners are made. Separate units may also have notch defects. In order not to have to look for a solution, how to unscrew a screw with torn edges, before buying fasteners, you should take an interest in its technical characteristics and make a visual inspection.
What to do first if a problem occurs?
When the tip of the screwdriver starts to pop off the fastener cap, the first thing to do is stop. So that the trouble has not acquired even greater proportions, you should not be persistent, repeating your own mistake. Otherwise, you can simply damage the material into which the fasteners are screwed, without achieving the desired result.
Next, you need to check how things work using another screwdriver. You should take a tool with an unworn sharp sting and try to remove the naughty fasteners using a non-violent method. How to unscrew a screw with torn edges, if such actions do not help? In this case, it’s worth using proven methods to fix the problem, which will be discussed later in the article.
Crimp fasteners
How to unscrew a screw with torn edges? If its head protrudes above the surface of the material, it is worth using pliers, a gas wrench or round-nose pliers. It is enough to grab a screw with one of these tools and try to crank it. In this case, unscrew the fasteners in a counterclockwise direction.
Thread restoration
How to unscrew a screw with torn edges? You can try to make a new thread on the head of the fastener yourself. To do this, use a hacksaw for metal with the thinnest blade. An alternative is to use a miniature grinder. Create a cut should be extremely careful so as not to completely destroy the screw head.
Screw drilling
How to unscrew a small screw with torn edges? If no gentle method gives a result, it is worth taking radical measures. We are talking about drilling fasteners to its base. It is recommended to use an automatic drill with a drill for metal for these purposes. Gradually, layer by layer, the fasteners will be removed from the thickness of the workpiece.
Friction force increase
To increase the adhesion between the tip of the screwdriver and the cap of fasteners, it is enough to put auxiliary material between them. You can use here a piece of abrasive sponge, a piece of metal wool, rolled tape, a thin strip of rubber. One of these materials should be attached to the damaged screw head and again try to remove it using a regular screwdriver.
Fastener Heating
How to unscrew a screw with torn edges? You can fix the problem by heating the fasteners. You need to resort to a solution only if there is a minimal risk of damage to the material where the screw is screwed. Heating will expand the metal. When it cools down in the structure of the workpiece, space is freed up, which will weaken the adhesion.
To achieve the goal, you can use a gas burner or a construction hairdryer. During the event, the device must be constantly in motion. Otherwise, the temperature may be too high and the material will be damaged. As soon as the fasteners become hot to the touch, it is necessary to stop heating. After the screw cools down, you need to try to unscrew it using improvised means, for example, capturing the head with the same pliers.
Extractor application
The extractor can become a solution to the problem. The tool is a kind of screwdriver, the tip of which contains a reverse thread. On the opposite side of the device there is a perpendicular bar with which you can rotate.
First, you need to make a notch on the head of the fixture, using a punch and a hammer. The mark should be in the center of severity. Using a metal drill, a small hole should be made in the head.
Next, you need to use the extractor itself. The tip of the tool should be inserted into the prepared notch and hit on its back with a hammer. Tapping on the extractor is necessary until it is firmly fixed in the head of the fixture. Then you need to turn the device several times. As soon as the reverse thread of the extractor is firmly rooted in the structure of the material, you can begin to remove the screw.
Glue
You can try to remove a screw with torn edges with glue. The latter must be applied to the head of the fixture and attach a nut of the corresponding diameter here. It is recommended to use epoxy adhesive for metal, known as "cold welding". As soon as the substance solidifies properly, it is necessary to put a key on the nut and turn the fasteners.
Useful Tips
When performing work, it is worth using several tips:
- Before resorting to radical measures, it is worth examining the back of the workpiece into which the screw is screwed. Perhaps the tip of the fastener peeps from the inside out. In this case, you can grab it with pliers and try to unscrew it from the inside.
- Getting down to business, you need to make sure that the rotation of the fasteners occurs in the right direction. Some screws have a reverse thread. In such situations, to solve the problem, you need to rotate clockwise.
- If a gaping hole remains after the screw in the workpiece, you can solve the problem by inserting a larger self-tapping screw here. An alternative is to use a bolted connection with a nut.
- When removing the screw using one of the above methods, the formation of all kinds of nicks and metal burrs is likely. In order not to suffer during the work, just put on tight gloves on your hands and protect your eyes with glasses.
Finally
So we examined what to do to remove a screw with damaged edges. As you can see, you can find the right solution even in the most hopeless situation. A wide variety of methods for unscrewing corrupted fasteners confirms this.