6 Easy Steps For Removing A Broken Screw From Wood

removing a broken screw from wood
removing a broken screw from wood

Most people enjoy working on their projects by themselves. Having the best possible equipment required for these jobs can be necessary.

That way, you will not have to deal with unnecessary delays. So, be sure to put some thought into the tools that you’re taking with you for the next project.

This will not only help you in completing work faster but more efficiently as well.

Talking about this, another important thing is where you buy all of your equipment from. The brand of your device will determine how many features it has.

Additionally, choosing a good company will also help you in preventing most issues from happening.

Although, one common issue that most people run into can be that the screw in their wooden plank broke. This can be quite annoying to deal with. 

This is why we will be using this article to provide you with a list of ways that can be used to help you in removing a broken screw from wood.

Removing A Broken Screw From Wood

  1. Cross Shape on Screw Gone

Installing the screw into your wooden plank too quickly can sometimes damage the cross shape on its head. If this happens, then there is no way to remove the broken screw from your material.

This can be quite annoying, but you have to keep in mind that you have to prevent your project from being damaged.

Considering this, one of the safest things that can be tried is using a set of pliers to take out your screw. Make sure that you cover up the surface of your plank near the screw using a thin sheet.

This way, even if the pliers come in contact with your project, there will be no scratches or damages.

In case the screw was bolted in so much that there is no room to use the plier. You can drill a small hole in your screw using a drill and then install a screw extractor in it.

screw

Spinning it a few times should help you in locking its teeth with the broken screw. The user can then pull out the screw enough so that it can be removed using pliers.

  1. Covering Up the Broken Screw

Sometimes even the head of the screw you were trying to install can come off.

If you run into this issue, then it can be extremely difficult for the user to remove their bolt. Keep in mind that you can simply ignore the damaged screw in most cases and cover it up using a small wooden piece.

This is arguably the best method when it comes to fixing issues with broken screws. You don’t need any expertise here, and a bit of effort here will be all that you need to cover up the piece. 

You can also rely on some epoxy resin to further create a cool design that will not only look amazing but will also make the project stand out.

Instead of thinking of this situation as an imperfection, you should consider it an opportunity to show your creativity.

Polishing over the surface should make it seem like there was never a broken screw there.

removing a screw

However, if you want to remove the screw, then you can move on to the next step. Hopefully, creating some smaller holes might be the right move in your situation. 

  1. Make Small Holes Near the Broken Screw

Finally, one last fix that you can go with is drilling small holes all around the screw that was broken.

This way, you can access the screw using a plug and then pull it out. As for the damages, you can take out small-bore plugs from a scrap of wood that matches your project.

These can be used to cover up all the small holes you had made in your project. The user can then continue drilling a new hole and install the screw in there.

  1. Use A Drill

The next thing that you need is a drill to get through these errors. You can easily rely on the dimple die tool to first create an entry point on the broken screw.

From there, you can use a cobalt bit to create a bigger hole in the screw. 

From there, you can rely on an extractor bit to first drill into the hole left by the previous bit and then put the drill in reverse.

drill bit

Make sure that the frame is held tightly, and then you can use the reverse feature on your drill to get the screw out. 

It will take a bit of your time, but you’re not left with many options when it comes to fixing these errors.

Hopefully, you will be able to avoid a ton of errors down the road and won’t have to deal with the same complications when it comes to keeping the wood piece in good condition.

Similarly, you should also be mindful of the pressure from the drill. If the screw is lodged completely into the wooden piece, then you will not be able to fish or drill it out as easily.

So, be sure to get help from the officials when you’re stuck in these errors. 

  1. Take The Chunk Off

If you’re not that worried about damage to the frame, then you can take the complete chuck out of the wood. It might not seem like a great idea, but you can create some amazing designs when relying on the right technique.

You can even choose to replace the chunk with epoxy resin and create some amazing designs with the epoxy mixture.

Hopefully, you will be able to avoid any excessive damage to the wooden piece, and fixing the situation will not be that challenging. 

All it takes is a bit of effort on your end, and you can show your creativity when it comes to optimizing the presentation.

You can also use chunks from other wooden frames and integrate that into your system. Furthermore, you can take more chunks from the frame to develop the complete design.

The only limit is your imagination, and you can get some ideas by browsing through online communities around woodworking.

A bit of extra effort on your end will help you develop an amazing piece that will look phenomenal in your workshop. 

  1. Hire An Expert

Lastly, you should just call it a day and reach out to the local experts. It is a good idea to have the local experts help you out and show you the right technique.

While you can get the screw out with brute force, that is not the most preferred method. 

Spending a bit of cash to hire an expert will help you out, and you will be able to avoid many mistakes.

You will further gain a lot of experience and tips from these professionals. So, when you get stuck in the same situation, you will know how to exactly maneuver through the situation.

Instead of worrying about the minimal hiring cost, you should give more focus to the experience that you will gain by getting an expert to guide you about the situation.

So, be sure to spare a few extra bucks, and you will be able to secure support from the officials. 

expert

Hopefully, everything will be sorted out in no time, and fixing the unit will come easily to you when there is an expert involved.

You shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to the local hardware store and get a professional to take a peek at your situation.

He will be more than happy to help, and you will be ahead of these issues in no time. Moreover, these professionals have all the right tools and accessories to limit these tricky situations. 

Wrapping Up

The situation with a broken screw can be next to impossible to handle for most beginners.

However, if you’re willing to test out your skills, then following through with the pointers above will have you sorted out in no time. So, be sure to keep track of all of the pointers above. 

Most of the time, you can just rely on an extractor or pliers to force out the screw. Keep in mind that you will end up damaging the frame.

There are no surefire methods that will help you avoid issues with the wood, and you just have to focus on getting the screw out with minimal damage.

If you’re not that confident in your skills and want to avoid any damage to the wooden frame, then we suggest that you leave this job to the experts.

You will only be wasting your time if you try to fix the unit yourself, and having an expert to help you out is a good idea.

Yes, you will have to pay hiring fees, but that is much better than spending hours of your time and damaging the wooden frame while attempting to fish out the screw.

So, we suggest that you focus more on increasing your budget, and you will be sorted out in no time. 

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