Learn simple ways to grip, unscrew or drill out a stripped screw without damaging the surrounding wood or fitting.
SR-01Check the screw and clear the areaWipe dust, paint or grease off the screw head so you can see the slot clearly - flat, Phillips or Pozidriv. Check for rust or old paint filling the slot, and make sure you have good light and space to work. If the screw is holding something heavy, support it first so it doesn't drop when it finally comes free.
SR-02Loosen a rusted or painted-over screwPut a few drops of penetrating oil into the screw slot and round the head. Leave it for 10-15 minutes to soak in. This softens rust and old paint, so the screw turns much more easily once you get a grip on it.
SR-03Try a wider or flat-blade screwdriverPick a flat-blade screwdriver slightly wider than the worn slot, or one size up if it's Phillips or Pozidriv. Push down firmly into the head and turn anti-clockwise with steady, even pressure. Keeping firm downward pressure while you turn stops the driver riding straight out of the stripped slot.
SR-04Use a rubber band for extra gripLay a wide rubber band flat over the stripped screw head. Push your screwdriver through the band and into the slot, then turn slowly and steadily. The rubber packs out the worn slot and gives the driver something to bite into.
SR-05Grip with pliers or a screw extractorIf the head stands clear of the surface, grip it hard with pliers or mole grips and turn anti-clockwise. If it's flush or rounded off, use a screw extractor set: drill a small pilot hole into the centre of the screw head with the bit supplied, then fit the extractor into that hole and turn anti-clockwise - it bites into the screw as it turns. Wear eye protection, as drilling into metal throws off sharp swarf.
SR-06Drill out the screw as a last resortIf nothing else works, drill straight down through the centre of the screw with a metal drill bit slightly narrower than the screw shank, then follow with a bit the same width to clear it fully. Keep the drill upright and go slowly so you don't wander off-centre. This destroys the screw but frees the fitting. If the screw is fixing something to a wall rather than a door or cabinet, stop and think about what's behind it - a detector can miss cables and pipes, so only drill as deep as the screw itself and no further.
SR-07Fill or patch the hole and tidy upIf the hole is now oversized or damaged, plug it with a wood filler dowel or matchsticks and wood glue, let it dry fully, then drill a fresh pilot hole for the new screw. Vacuum up metal filings or wood dust and wipe the area clean. Fit a new screw of the same size once everything is dry.