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how do you remove a rusted screw? i tried some wd-40 and it didnt loosen it at all. i dont want to turn it too hard and risk stripping the screw too. anyone got any suggestions on how to loosen a rusted screw? thanks.

 
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Tap it with a hammer, then try to loosen it. Or, if it is screwed into metal, and its not painted, then you can heat it up with a propane torch. I usually use that technique on ball joints and exhaust bolts.

 
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Another method i have used is to grind off the head of the screw, (if it isn't countersunk), and then separate the two surfaces being secured by the screw, then using vise grips remove the headless screw.

So it depends on your application.

 
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it is screwed into painted metal and i dont want to mess up the paint or metal by hammering or torching it. what should i do?

 
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Here is another method i use for delicate applications. This method may or may not require you to get a new screw, and it works best with a screw having a slotted head rather than a phillips head. I get a center punch and a hammer, then place the center punch into the slot on one end of screw head and give it a few taps to loosen it. Keep in mind the force you apply must be in a counter clockwise direction (lefty loose-y, righty tighty).

If this all doesnt work, it always helps to have a brand new screw driver that isnt rounded off at the tip, as normal wear seems to cause over time.

 
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what size is the screw? Drill it out with a bit that is just slightly smaller than the threads. Then you use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull out the old threading. Drill right through the center of the screw head!!

 
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What about those screw driver tips they sell at Sears? That Bob Vila ****. Its designed to unscrew things that are stripped or really rusty. Its like a regular tip only its sharp and when you turn it diggs into the head of a screw and takes it out.

 
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get a hand impact driver. put it in the screw, hit the other end with a hammer. Something like 200 ft-lbs. that'll crack it loose.

 
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if you dont wanna use metal hammer, use rubber hammer! it has saved my dad so many times when it came to work like this...

 
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get some touch up paint...haha

 
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yeah i do home renovation and remodeling and the best thing we have for this is to drill out the screw with a bit, pull whats left out, then if its needed we tap new threads a 1/6 larger and use a 16th larger screw

 
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moved to Tech Stuff forum

 
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anyone else got any advice on how to remove it w/o damage what it is tapped into?

 
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I work at a hardware store. There r basically three options:

1. use a torch to heat it up and then try to unscrew it- u cant do that

2. use some short of hammer to try and loosen it- cant do that

3. The third way is using a small drill bit to drill out the center of the screw and then using an extractor to back out the screw. This is ur best option. This will not strip the hole because u r backing the screw out and it will be least likely to damage the paint. Heres a pic of what i call an extractor:





U will obviously use a smaller size than that, though. U can find them at any hardware store. Hoped i helped u any.

 
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arent those really expensive? last time i went to a hardware store looking for a set they wanted almost $30 for it

 
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You only need one for the job u r doing. They should only cost like 5 or 6 bucks at the most. If u want, im working tonight so i could give u a def price quote?

 
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Don't buy a whole set, just get the size you need. They can be bought at a hardware store very easily, i got like 4 of these in my basement, just in case ya know. I think these things are like 3 bux.

 
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er, sorry, i just read civictuner04's post. gosh, sounds a lot like mine.

 
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yeah we call them taps. they work wonderfully! haha ive got a bunch also, godo thing to have on hand for a DIYer