Rusted screws in metal are especially tight because the rust bonds with rust on the metal.
Best for:Rusted screw in metal, screw head not stripped or partially stripped, screw not broken.
For easier extraction, purchase a pair of screw extractor pliers.
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Grooves on extractor pliers run horizontally and vertically.
The vertical grooves allow you to hold the pliers upright instead of sideways.
Best for: Rusted screw in wood, broken orstripped screwhead, embedded rusty screw.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Penetrating oil assists with removal if the rusty screw is in metal.
Best for: Larger diameter screws, heavily stripped screw heads, embedded rusty screw.
Safety Considerations
Always wear safety glasses when removing a rusted screw.
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This will help the penetrating oil reach deeper into the screw threads.
Tip
Brands of penetrating oil include Kroil, Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster, and Royal Purple.
Penetrating oil can be made with a 1:1 ratio of acetone and automatic transmission fluid.
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Placing a bolt on top of the screw head will concentrate the hammer blows.
Do not use a nailset or other pointed tool to avoid damaging the screw head.
Saturate the rusted screw with the penetrating oil.
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Let the oil soak into the screw for 15 to 30 minutes.
Pliers must be held sideways to take advantage of the pliers' horizontal grooves.
Turn the rusted screw counter-clockwise.
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Do not use penetrating oil on wood as it is specified only for metal-to-metal contact.
Soaking wood with penetrating oil or any liquid causes wood to expand, making removal even harder.
Grasp the screw head from above and turn counter-clockwise.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Another method is to tap the back of a flat-head screwdriver and create shallow indentations around the screw head.
confirm that the screw head perimeter is clear of obstructions.
The penetrating oil needs access to the perimeter so it can soak down to the threads.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Gently tap the screw head a few times with a hammer.
Apply Penetrating Oil
Fit the applicator nozzle on the can of penetrating oil.
Alternate tapping the screw and adding penetrating oil.
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Let the oil soak in for at least 30 minutes.
A lefthand drill bit will often begin turning out the screw before it reaches the shank.
If in doubt about size, start small.
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you’re free to always work upward in size.
If you start too large, you risk boring out the entire screw and possibly damaging the surrounding material.
Chuck the Bit Into the Drill
Chuck the drill bit into an electric drill.
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Tighten down the chuck as hard as you’re able to by hand.
Drill Into the Rusted Screw
Add a drop or two of cutting oil to the screw.
With the drill in REVERSE,drill into the center of the screw.
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Keep the drill in line with the screw.
Drill into the screw, maintaining slight pressure on the drill to force it into the screw.
Use a Screw Extractor Kit
For more difficult extractions, use a screw extractor kit.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If the rusted screw is in wood, turning with a larger screwdriver or pliers usually works.
A deeply embedded rusted screw can be removed with a screw removal kit or with left-hand drill bits.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
