Recycling or upcycling furniture? Here are some tips for removing stripped screws, headless nails, and busted fasteners
Difficulty: Easy
8 Comments
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I've had to use an extractor before many times on stripped out screws and bolts. On fasteners that are really jammed in good it can be very tough to extract them. -
Often I'll take a file to the shaft of a broken screw and create two flat surfaces opposite one another. Then I'll clamp on a pair of vice grips and and try to easy out the screw. If all else fails, I figure out a way to get around it, sometimes by changing the design slightly ;-) -
Great tips! -
Good tips. Thanks. -
Great tips David. Thanks. I'm clipping this one. -
Depending on the purpose, you can always drive broken nails (sometimes screws) down into the wood w/ a nail set and putty. -
When I disassemble pallets I use a sawzall then take a punch with a hammer and pound out the nails. -
For nails I pound them out from the back just enough to get the claw of the hammer under the head and pull it out the front. For molding or trim I pull them through from the back because it causes less damage and leaves a smaller hole. For staples I use my diagnal cutters and pull them out. I don't even mess with broken screws because they are a pain.
