Screw stuck fast in wall! How to remove?

sarkozy

I have a few screws stuck fast into a brick wall. Today, I was removing a wall railing on a stairs in my house.

I've googled and haven't yet found a (non-destructive) solution that works. Hammering it slightly, using penetrating lubricant, using leverage, sticking a wide rubber band in the slot, I just can't get the friction and power I need.

It's a Philips head screw, possibly a masonry screw, about 3-4 inches.

Just wondering what's worked for any of you?

paddy147

Pliers and slowly twist them out.


Works a treat when the pozi head of the screw gets fcuked up.

sarkozy

Problem is, the screws are so far into the wall, and within a recess in the rail bracket, that I haven't a hope of getting a grip.

motherofthree

there is a gadget on the market to take out damaged screws ,hardware shop should have them

CJhaughey

Drill the heads off with a drill the same size as the screw shank.
Once the head are off and the handrail is removed, use a good set of vice-grips to clamp on and twist out.

dbyrne

I have had this problem in the past and I have brocken the head or cut the hed off at the pall and filled over. The other option is to get your drill our and drill holes beside the screw to the the screw out.

goat2

i have had this problem,
only way i could do the job was, to get a punch and hammer and hammer it in the slightest bit and filling over it, it will be a tiny hole you need to fill, but if you insist on taking it out you are going to end up with a larger hole and lots of sweat all for nothing, my way it leaves just the size of screwhead of a little hole about a quarter or less of a cm in and it takes the tiniest bit of filler to fill in, then you just dab on a little of the paint that is already on wall on the filler, wait till it dries and you will not see the thing

3ndahalfof6

You could drill the head off the screw, this will let you remove the rail, then there should be plenty of the screw showing,

if you have a pair of mini vice grips this should let you remove the screws with very little damage.

m.j.w

If the problem is that the screw head is rung you can get an elastic band.

http://lifehacker.com/5462520/remove-a-stripped-screw-with-a-rubber-band

3ndahalfof6

why not fill the screw head with a rubber solution and let it set, or an isopon compound pushing your screwdriver into it to create a mold, let it set then try to remove the screw (just thinking out loud)

wayoutwest

CJhaughey' suggestion of drilling the head off will do the job nicely.....buy a brand new drill bit -they are cheap -don't be struggling with a used one.Set drill to low speed.