Ok men(and any wise women/ladies)!! How the f**k do I get a screw out that just won't budge??

[tortoisesdonotwearshoes]

Its in the wooden gate post.Im trying to put a new bolt on the gate because the old one has broken!
Ive managed through sheer determination to remove 1 screw but the other 3 won't budge.
Ive tried a battery drill/screwdriver and a normal screwdriver.Im just destroying the screwdriver bits!

So is there another way I can try??

if all else fails, whack it with a hammer

Yes its been raining! My neighbours will think im nuts if i get the extention lead out and put the hairdryer in it!!But anythings worth a try!

Have you sheered the bit the the screwdriver goes into? I.e. when you turn the screwdriver does it just trun round and have nothing to grip on to?

If the screw is basicly f**ked like this then you will have to drill out the screw head. Get a electric drill and the right size bit and dril away until screw head is gone and bolt falls off. When screwing on the new bolt the position it so the screws are in new positions.

If the screw head is fine and just stuck you need an electric screwdriver or a drill with a screw driver bit. Make sure you have the right size screwdriver bit so it catches the screw properly. If you can't get an electric screwdriver you will need to get a man . He will probably have an electric screwdriver anyway.

As you can guess I do all the DIY DH only gats called in to deal with tough screws

PS don't go at it with a hair dryer just pray it is sunny tomorrow .

There is a little grip left but any size bit i tried in the drill/screw driver just got chewed up by the screw!! Its a battery one. Might be able to drill it out then.I went out thinking it would be an easy job!!

If drill bit is getting chewed it is softer than screw, buy better bits .

Ok.
Next on buy list new bits!!

Hellish when your screws are tougher than your bits and leave them wrecked .

So i need to go in the diy shop and say i want to screw but my bits aren't strong enough??

LOL

Soak it in coke overnight - it dissolves rust so you can unscrew.

Flat coke apparently also cleans toiets beautifuly

toilets sorry - sticky l on keyboard

millie99 Its attached to the gate post outside! But worth remembering if needed in the future.

my hubby said get an old screw driver & a hammer place on screwdriver on screw as is you are going to unscrew it and then hit the screw driver a few times this is then concentrating the shocks onto the screw! it my loosen it, its something he picked up when he worked at a garage

and a little message from me watch you hands/ fingers if you miss the the hammer it hurts!

Will try that.Thanks.(still need to buy hammer first!)
lots of good ideas to try.

Stand aside ladies....

I presume you need to use the same bolt holes because you are replacing the bolt like for like.
So far you are 3-1 down versus the screws, move on. if the screws are holding the old bolt on leave it and fit the new bolt in a different position.

You have to remove the old bolt, you say?... you may have to accept that rusty screws do not always come out an cut the tops off with a junior hacksaw.

Get some spare blades!

!!Remember saws have teeth that face one way place pressure on the stroke that uses the teeth to cut, not the return stroke or you'll blunt the saw!!

I would cut behind the metalwork. try raising it with a flat bladed screwdriver first.... you may be able to prise the screws out this way....

For easier access you can remove the blade slip it behind the bolt and place it back in the saw

drilling the head off and banging in the remainder as previously explaind is probably the easiest option if you have the right kit. Apologies to skribble and Ursula.

Thanks Carlk.
Think it will have to be the drilling out option!
Just need the rain to stop now!!

Carlk, even if you saw off the screw heads it will not be possible to bang in the remainder - they are screws! If the whole screw is drilled out the holes will be too big for the new fitting.

So the problem is to remove the old bolt plate, then use completely new holes for the new bolt plate. A hacksaw sounds the best option, but brute force can also work well if you can get anything (e.g. a claw hammer) between the bolt plate and the post. This would force the holes in the bolt plate (where the screws go through) to enlarge until the screw head can get through. You then end up with three damaged screws still in the post, but it is now easy to saw them off.

From the previous posts, I would guess tortoisesdonotwearshoes needs to go shopping.

Try using pliers.

Clerk it is possible to bang screws in, haven't you heard of a Birmingham screwdriver

Always try tightening it and the loosening it - usually works for me.

I bought a claw hammer and a hacksaw today.

Couple of hits with the hammer and a few pulls with the claw bit behind the bit on the gate and...

The bloody hammer snapped!!
Saw wasn't much use either.
Drill needs charging so may try that later.
I will not be defeated!

What kind of a crappy hammer was that ? Did you buy it in toys R Us ? LOL

I would get a LARGE straight screwdriver (not Philips crosshead) and smack it onto the (already useless) screwhead to cut a new groover IYSWIM. All this violent action should yield a nice groove and also shock the screw body a tad. You might then be able to unscrew it.

Otherwise just drill the sucker out and stuff the hole with matchsticks / long, tapered, thin little wooden off cut pieces so the hole is smaller and will grip again when you rescrew it with a STAINLESS STEEL screw.

I have stainless steel 50mm screws if you need them.

It was a £5.99 in my local hardware shop! It will be going back!! I can't afford to waste that much on crap!
Will try the straight screw bit tip too.
(im trying everything!!)
Was planning to use the screws the new bolt came with.Im hoping it won't need changing again!