How to Remove a Broken Screw | Tricks and Ways to Succeed

Anyone who has had to do some repairs in their home or has had to manipulate screws will have had a negative experience when removing a broken screw. It is very common that over the years the screws become seized or rusty and then it is a challenge to remove them. On the Internet we can find many tricks and tutorials on how to extract a broken screw in different ways, by hitting it with a hammer, with some kind of rubber that adapts to the head of the screw, a drill… you can even see videos of people who use different products such as Coca-Cola to help in the extraction. If what you want is to remove a broken screw, definitely the best option is to use the appropriate tool such as a screw extractor.

What is a screw extractor?

A screw extractor is a type of drill bit with a special shape on the head that is used to remove screws that have become loose and cannot be removed. The type of extractor that we are going to use will depend on the type of screw that we have, since the tool is not the same for a PH, PZ or hexagonal screwdriver.

Broken screw extractor for PH, PZ or flat head

Screw extractors for screws with PH, PZ or flat heads are shaped like a drill bit and have a tip with a cross-shaped tip similar to a flat-head screwdriver. To use this type of tool, it is important to use a power tool, such as a drill, and applying strong pressure on the screw head in the opposite direction.

Broken screw extractor for hex head

If, on the other hand, the screw we want to remove has a hexagonal, TX or square head, we will have to use a different screw extractor. This type of extractor has a kind of socket wrench shape that closes to properly grip the screw head and thus be able to proceed with the extraction.

How a screw extractor works

The screw extractor can be used in combination with a bit holder or with a power tool such as a drill, at a very low speed. It is important to note that the screw extractor will only work in an anti-clockwise direction, since otherwise we would be applying a pushing force to insert the screw.

Removing broken screw without screw extractor

If we do not have the right tool to remove the broken screw, we can use an awl, a flat-head screwdriver and a fine-toothed drill. The first step is to mark the screw with the awl, making it look like a flat-head screwdriver. Then, with the drill and the fine-toothed drill bit, we will proceed to enlarge the cavity until we can fit the flat-head screwdriver into it. Finally, we will proceed to extract it.

Conclusion for removing a broken screw

If you have had this bad luck, it is best to have a complete kit to be able to cover this type of task and not waste too much time on them. In the Bianditz catalogue you can find a complete kit of screw extractors with PH, PZ, flat, TX, hexagonal and square heads.