How Can a Rusted Screw be Removed

If you want to repair something old, then you are bound to face the problem of stuck rusted screws. The rust developed on the screws makes them stubborn. If you do not use the right technique to remove the screws, you will end up wasting a lot of energy, and you may also strip the screw head (making your problem worse), or damage the object to be repaired.

I am assuming that you have already tried the conventional methods of removing a screw, you might be irritated by now, but you should realize that your irritation coupled with impatience will make things difficult for you. Follow the steps mentioned below so that you remove the rusted screw successfully, and avoid the wastage of your time, effort, and money.

Applying Penetrating Oil
A variety of penetrating oils are available in the market, buy any one of them. Apply the penetrating oil on the screw thread (see that the oil comes in contact with the area between the nut and the bolt). If you cannot apply the oil directly on the screw thread, then put a few drops of penetrating oil on the screw head. The oil will seep into the seal formed by the rust, and thus it will loosen the screw. After applying the penetrating oil, do not work on the screw immediately. The oil will take time to do its job.

Loosening the Screw
Half an hour post the application of the penetrating oil, attempt to loosen the screw. Take a screwdriver (which has a head, that matches perfectly to the screw head), and use it to apply torque on the screw. When you work on the screw, see that you exert pressure towards the screw. Make sure that you are applying the torque in the right direction. Sporadically tap the screw head from all possible directions. Once the screw budges, keep changing the direction of the torque, this will help break the seal of rust. If you feel that the screw is considerably loose now, then apply torque in the right direction to remove the screw. If the screw refuses to move, you should consider the reapplication of the penetrating oil, and work on the screw after some time.

Stripped Screw Head
While working on the screw with a screwdriver, you might accidentally strip off the screw head. In such a situation, a screwdriver may no longer be effective. You can consider using any of the following methods to remove the stripped screw:

• You can use a vise grip.
• You can use a screw extractor.
• You can drill the screw out.
• You can heat the screw, and then use a vise grip.

When you decide to drill the screw, see that you drill exactly at the center of the screw head. If you are not precise with the drilling, you might damage the object which holds the screw. Use the heating method only if the area around the screw is tolerant to heat. If you overheat the screw, you might end up melting it (this will be a greater problem), so stop heating the moment the screw starts turning red. Do not forget to wear your safety gear when you are using the extractor, drill, or the heating method!

In some cases, you might have to keep the screw soaked in penetrating oil for a few days, before you finally remove the screw, such situations demand a lot of patience. All the tools that you might need to remove rusted screws (screwdriver, vise grip, screw extractor, etc.) can be easily found in a hardware store. If the object you are working on is valuable, then you better take professional help. I recommend you to wear gloves while working on a rusted screw, and see that you do not hurt yourself in a hasty attempt to remove the screw!