How to unscrew a broken screw?

Editor:Jiaxing UNITEK Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. │ Release Time:2021-11-11 

Large and small screws can be seen everywhere in life. Therefore, it is inevitable that we will always encounter the situation of screwing and screwing in our lives. At this time, it's more awkward, you can't break it, you can't pull it off, and brutal disassembly will damage the main body. Don't worry, I will introduce a few methods below, the process requires the assistance of soldering iron and soldering tin. However, this method has its limitations, that is, it is necessary to determine whether the components of the fixing screws can withstand high temperatures of about 300°C before use. In other words, screws on components that are not resistant to high temperatures such as plastic parts are not suitable for this method.


To give a simple example, the fixing screws in the picture are made of iron. The cross recessed screw was twisted forcibly and rotten.

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The screw is heated directly by the soldering iron until the temperature is enough to melt the solder. Fill the hole in the middle with the heated liquid solder. What needs attention here is that the holes must be filled, not empty in the holes. The order here is very important. The screw must be heated first, and then the soldering iron must be melted. The order cannot be reversed, otherwise the solder will solidify before the holes are filled.

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After the solder drips over the hole, continue heating to keep it in a molten state, and then insert the screwdriver at a vertical angle. Generally, we will choose a Phillips screwdriver with a larger contact area. Continue to repair the solder on the screwdriver bit, fill it up and wait for the solder to cool down. The screws can be easily unscrewed with a screwdriver after cooling to below 100°C.

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After successfully unscrewing the screw, the soldering iron is heated to separate the screw from the screwdriver. And clean the solder on the screwdriver head.


However, this method is only suitable for screws that have not rusted. If the screws are rusted, it is recommended to use a thin drill or awl to drill and replace them with new ones.