Screw Extractors - Any Advice?

[Mardoo]

OK, building a workbench for brewing, among other things, and I have been using 100mm batten screws (jarrah going onto a cypress frame). However once I got sick of drilling guide holes and used the self-drill aspect I've ended up with a few stuck, stripped out screws. They're all about 85mm in to hard wood, so any extraction device will need a fload of torque. Drill isn't an issue torque-wise. I've never used screw extractors before. Do either this type or this type work? Is there something else I should be considering? I could use an angle grinder and just grind them off. It's all reclaimed wood and it's a workbench FFS so pretty isn't a concern.

 

[Grott]

Try using a crow bar with the nail lifter, put that under the screw head, apply pressure and screw out with the drill. Should work.
Cheers

 

[Seaquebrew]

Is the screw broken off flush ?

If not, vice grips or a small set of stilsons should do it

Both of those screw extractors work okay

Cheers

 

[Mardoo]

Nope, not broken off flush. Heads are completely stripped so I'm not sure the crow bar will work. I tried the vice grips but couldn't get the grip since the screws are so deep in the wood.

 

[panspermian]

If their not flush, get a hacksaw and make a cut that allow a large flat screwdriver in.
If they are flush, if you have something like a dremel tool, do the same thing. Make a cut so a flat screw driver can get a hold.

 

[superstock]

If pretty isn't a concern, go your last option. Grind it off and save the money buying tools you might not use again.

 

[manticle]

All methods I would suggest are above so I'll just reiterate
Vice grips or cutting a new slot for a flat head. Grinding works too, wear goggles.

if it's not totally ground out you can also succeed using some coated grippy gloves, a hand phillips and pressure.

Then go back to not taking time consuming shortcuts. Countersinking drill bits will save some time and look tidy but drill those suckers first in any case.

Also if you can get hold of some beeswax, coat the screw threads with a little on each and make life easier (the future ones going in, not these coming out).

 

[Danwood]

Sound advice. Short cuts often lead to the exact opposite eventually.

I've been working on a wine barrel table recently. It's nearly finished, but a few things took longer because I tried short cuts which didn't work out.

 

[dblunn]

If you can't get a good grip on them and you have a welder then you can tack some scrap onto the head and get a grip on that.

 

[Mardoo]

Thanks guys. And yes Manticledaddy, I was a bad boy

 

[antiphile]

All good suggestions and well worth trying. Of the EzyOut types, I've had success with:
http://www.carbatec.com.au/5-piece-screw-extractor-set_c20408
but not 100% of the time.

 

[Black Devil Dog]

This type of thing will work if you are careful and very patient. I've used mine many times with success when extracting batten screws that have burred.

You need to smack the bit into the hole forcefully so that it's in firmly, (but don't keep hitting it) connect your ratchet, then carefully undo the screw. Repeat the process if necessary.

Another option is to cut the head off the screw with an angle grinder and drill a hole alongside that screw and then drive another screw in.

No one will notice if you don't tell them.

 

[Maheel]

sometimes you can grind the sides of the head of the screw "flat" so you can grab it better with vice grips...

The welder is also good if you have one

Also if you can get hold of some beeswax, coat the screw threads with a little on each and make life easier (the future ones going in, not these coming out).

a bar of soap also is often used
old candle wax (some say the paraffin oil repels water if used in boats etc)

I use a little soap on my tenon saw / panel saws

 

[wombil]

A small pair of stilsons does the trick easily.

 

[Florian]

Without having read through the whole thread, aldi has a screw extractor set at the moment, no idea if any good or not but maybe worth checking out online?

Edit:can't paste link on phone for some reason but google aldi screw remover, first link, 8 bucks for a set of 5.

 

[manticle]

8 bucks for 5 of anything in terms of tools is generally $8 mispent in my experience.
Would I buy cheap Aldi coffee, pork, toilet paper, frozen raspberries? Yes.

Tools? Done it so many times when on a budget AND seen the difference quality tools can make that I wouldn't bother anymore. Rather use my teeth.
Buy once, buy right.
Do festool make screw extractors?

 

[Florian]

I get what you're saying but some of that aldi tool stuff is actually made in germany rather than china and rock solid from my own experience.

 

[user 36151]

If you haven't yet removed the screws you can try closing the drill chuck on them and put in reverse
You may need to cut head off screw depending on screws and chuck capacity.
I find aldi tools to be ok at least the stuff i have purchased

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

There is a reason why you pre drill into hardwood.

Def need to drill native cypress. Its good timber but cracks easly. Especially floor boards

 

[manticle]

I get what you're saying but some of that aldi tool stuff is actually made in germany rather than china and rock solid from my own experience.

Fair enough. My experience of cheap tools has seen me avoid Aldi but maybe they are the exception.