How to remove stripped Allen bolt? Despite the fact that an Allen bolt has a cylindrical top and an Allen screw has a tapered top, you can easily remove both of them using tools and materials you probably already have at home. In order to remove that annoying screw or bolt, keep reading for all the best advice and methods to try.
Table of Contents
What Materials Do You Need?
Materials Needed
- Safety gear such as goggles and gloves
- A screwdriver
- A hammer
How to Remove Stripped Allen Bolt?
A stripped Allen screw can be removed from furniture or any other surface using a variety of techniques. However, not every circumstance will allow you to use every technique.
Which tools and methods you can use will occasionally depend on how well the Allen screw is maintained. In some circumstances, you might also find yourself needing to buy a new tool.
Method 1: Turn to Your Trusty Pair of Pliers
It will be relatively simple to remove the hex screw if it has a fully exposed head. Only the pliers in your toolbox will be necessary.
Take hold of the hex screw’s head firmly with your pliers. Verify that the jaws are firmly locked over the screw head. If the plier’s head is somewhat compressed, you can tell that the grip is tight.
Start twisting the screw out after the pliers’ jaws have firmly gripped the screw head. To avoid breaking the screw head off, use caution when exerting force. To keep the screw from breaking, you can remove the final portion of it by hand. Return to the pliers to further remove the screw if you run into resistance.
Method 2: Use Another Material to Aid in the Removal of the Stripped Allen Screw
A screwdriver can still be used to extract screws that have not been severely damaged. Just some extra assistance from another substance, like a rubber band, will do.
The screw head should be covered with a rubber band, a scrap of thin fabric, or a piece of cardboard. Spend some time making sure it is correctly aligned with the stripped screw. Pick up your screwdriver next. Verify that it is the appropriate size for the stripped screw you wish to remove.
Allow the covering material to aid in engaging the screw as you begin to twist the screwdriver. Twist the screw a little more until it is completely gone.
Method 3: Make the Stripped Allen Screw Easier to Remove by Using a Special Substance
In the event that the stripped screw is not deformed, using a special substance is an additional choice to take into account. The purpose of products like Screw Grab is to increase friction between your tool and the stripped screw.
Method 4: Transform the Stripped Allen Screw into a Flat Head
Having power tools at home can make it easier to remove stripped screws. You can make a groove on the screw head using, for instance, a rotary tool. If a saw is capable of making such a small cut, it can also be used.
Once the groove has been made, take a flathead screwdriver and place it inside the opening. Up until the screw is removed from the hole, begin turning once more.
Method 5: Modify the Indentation in the Stripped Allen Screw
The second technique involves once more altering the surface of the stripped Allen screw head. On the other hand, this time you’re not making a flat head out of it.
Get a screwdriver, and make sure it is bigger than the one that should be used on the stripped screw. Before using a hammer, place the screwdriver over the fastener’s head. Don’t yank the screwdriver too hard. Just give it a hard enough blow to leave a mark on the screw head.
To better engage the stripped screw, use the newly formed indentation. To make the screwdriver’s grip on the stripped screw stronger, try striking it with the hammer once more.
Method 6: Enlist the Help of a Screw Extractor Kit
The stripped Allen screw can also be removed using a screw extractor kit, which is the final option. The vast majority of screw extractor kits on the market are made to be used with drills.
The manufacturer will typically provide instructions on how to use the extractor. Usually, you’ll need to use one end of the drill bit that came with the kit to make an indentation first. The Allen screw can then be extracted by turning the bit over and using the other end.
How Can You Prevent Screws from Getting Stripped?
Given how frequently you use them in the kitchen, bathroom, and other areas of your home, preventing stripped screws is essential. The good news is that stripped screws can be prevented with relatively little effort.
If you’re using the appropriate tools, start by examining them. Check that your drills and screwdrivers are compatible with the screws you are using before you begin to insert or remove them.
Additionally, try to minimize using outdated tools. Tools in poor condition can only perform at a subpar level. The objects they come into contact with, like screws, may be harmed by their subpar performance.
FAQs?
You may feel overloaded by all the information we’ve given you. To help you understand, here are some of the most frequent questions about removing a stripped Allen screw:
What Can I Use in Place of An Allen Wrench?
You could substitute a flat screwdriver if you lost your Allen wrench. Make sure it slips snugly over the socket screwdriver.
Additionally, since hex screws are compatible with it, you can use a drill bit with a Torx attachment.
How Do You Remove Allen Screws Without Allen Keys?
Allen screws can be removed using a variety of techniques. You can either shock it, weld a bolt stop, or use a left-handed drill bit.
Can I Put An Allen Wrench in a Drill?
By removing the L part of the Allen wrench, you can insert it into a drill. The best Allen wrenches to use for the job are old ones, but new ones will work just as well.
Conclusion
Simple rubber bands from around the house will work. Put a section of the rubber band over the screw’s head. Take a screwdriver and insert it into the rubber band. To remove the stripped screw, turn the screwdriver counterclockwise.
