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How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw

Introduction

This guide will show you how to extract a screw that has broken while being embedded inside its hole, along with showing you how to replace it with a new one. This process works for screws inside walls, pieces of lumber, or metal. The guide requires a couple of power tools, so you should always use the necessary precautions when using them to avoid any injuries.

What you need

  1. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw, How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Use an angle grinder to grind the tip of the broken screw until its surface is smooth and even.

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  2. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 2, image 1 of 2 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Place a center punch in the middle of the tip of the screw.

    • Use a hammer to hit the center punch to make a dent in the center of the embedded screw.

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  3. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 3, image 1 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 3, image 2 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Place a center drill bit in the dent made in the previous step and start drilling until it expands enough to fit the standard drill bit inside it.

    • Always keep the drill bit at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the screw since tilting it can bend and break its tip.

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  5. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 4, image 1 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 4, image 2 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Make a hole in the tip of the screw by drilling with a standard drill bit.

    • Keep drilling until the hole reaches near the end of the screw.

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  6. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 5, image 1 of 2 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Insert a screw extractor in the hole and then hammer it inside, making sure it is tight.

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  7. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 6, image 1 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 6, image 2 of 3 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Using a wrench, unscrew the extractor.

    • The screw will come along with it, freeing the hole.

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  8. How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 7, image 1 of 2 How to Remove a Broken and Embedded Screw: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • Screw the new screw inside the freed hole.

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Finish Line

3 other people completed this guide.

One Comment

It all sounds great, but... It didn't work. I have a Porter-Cable older router. The first screw in the base came out without a problem, and the other 2 screws wouldn't budge. I tried various penetrating oils and nothing. I drilled one of the screws and tried an extractor...nothing. I cut off the screw and drilled clean through, then tried the extractor again...nothing. So, what's left of the screw is drilled out, won't budge with a hole, and is laughing at me.

Although I haven't tried it yet, I was going to cut of the base, leaving the screw intact, getting some vise grips and try to twist it out.

Any other ideas??

frustrated home improvement - Reply

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