How to Loosen a Stuck Screw

Stuck screws can be really frustrating and annoying - especially when you are in a hurry to get a project done or make a repair and no matter what you try you just can't seem to get the screw to turn. In most cases screws become stuck due to corrosion. In order to get the screw to move, you need to break it free from the corroded material that is holding it in place. Here are methods you can try that should help you to loosen a stuck screw.

Dissolve the Corroded Material Holding it in Place

When a screw or the surrounding material corrodes it can leave the screw firmly stuck in the residue that has corroded. One way of loosening a screw is to try to dissolve the corroded material holding it in place. In most cases this means that you are going to be dealing with rust. There are commercial products available designed to dissolve rust around screws so you can get them out. However, in many cases a homemade version will work just as well.

Lemon juice, cola, or vinegar all dissolve rust. Try soaking the screw in one of these liquids. Apply the liquid to a shop towel or tissue and place it over the screw so it has a chance to seep down on the sides of it. This works best for shorter screws since on long screws the liquid doesn't always seep far enough down to have an impact.

Leave the liquid on long enough so that it has time to work. Try the screw periodically to see if you can move it. Eventually, in many cases the rust will dissolve away and you will be able to loosen the screw.

Use More Force

It is hard to get a lot of leverage with a standard screwdriver so you may not be able to apply enough force to the screw to move it. If the screw is sticking up slightly you can try to grab it with a pair of pliers and twist it that way. Usually the pliers will give you much more leverage than a screwdriver and in many cases it will give you enough force to loosen the screw.

If the screw is not sticking up, you can try using the pliers on the shaft of your screwdriver. Firmly place the screwdriver in the screw and hold it securely in place. With your other hand use the pliers to grip the shaft of the screwdriver and use them to turn the screwdriver. Again, this will sometimes give you enough leverage that the screw will start to turn.

Try Tightening the Screw

Although it seems counterproductive to tighten a screw that you are trying to get out, a lot of times it will allow you to free it from the corroded material surrounding it. The key to getting the screw out is to get it moving regardless of which direction it moves in. Sometimes even stuck screws will move more easily in the direction of tightening and this will be enough to break the bond. Then you can unscrew the screw normally.

Use an Impact Screwdriver

Pounding on a screw can often be enough to break the hold that the material surrounding it has on it. An impact screwdriver is designed to turn the bit when the end of the screwdriver is hit with a hammer. You simply place the screwdriver on the screw like normal then pound the end of it with the hammer. Each time you do the bit turns a little. The combination of the impact and the twisting can often free the screw from the bond of the corroded material around it.

Hopefully these tips will help you if you are facing a stuck screw. The only good thing about screws that won't come loose is the feeling of elation when you finally get it moving.