Stripped and rusted screws

every time i'm trying to quickly teardown something thats been left outside, i run into this problem. Rusty screw and bolts that i cant remove. Sometimes i cut them out, but sometimes its just not as effective to cut, and i dont have a set of bolt drilling bits to drill them out. Eric knows how frustrating this can be, and gave a quick tutorial on how to get the job done.





thanks, bud. i like how it shows the power tool and the manual method to be just as effective

That was cool. Thanks for the link.

When I find a rusty screw.

I check the others, they may move & give me a idea of the force needed.

I try it & if the screwdriver (actually 'screw turner') slips or won't move. I try & see if the metal its screwed thru can move a bit, its often enough to loosen it.
Slips?

I replace it & give it a wack with a hammer to seat the driver into the socket & crush the rust to give the driver more leverage & grip.

Slips again?
Remove driver & lightly bash the end of the screw with the hammer & also try & see if the metal its screwed thru can move a bit again.
The bash will deform the top of the scew slots so when you insert the driver & bash that, its seated as much as possible.
Then I refit the driver & lightly bash the screwdriver again. Try & turn it.

Slips, again?!
My last try before using a impact driver or power tools.... Its a ghetto impact driver.

Insert the driver hard in & then twist the driver anticlockwise a bit. You will feel the driver come out of the screw a bit, just a tiny bit. Hold it real solid like in that position.
Than I bash it with the hammer again.
This drives the screw down & turns it just like a impact driver does.

Normally that'l do it. After that, the screws screwed, hacksaw or grind a slot across the screw head, use a flat blade driver.
Then if that does not work, cold chisle & hammer.

Or grind the screw head off.

Originally Posted by eesakiwi

When I find a rusty screw.

Normally that'l do it. After that, the screws screwed, hacksaw or grind a slot across the screw head, use a flat blade driver.
Then if that does not work, cold chisle & hammer.

Or grind the screw head off.

A little variation that works for me....Cut a slot across the face of the bolt or screwhead with a Dremel rotary grinding disc just large enough
for your hand impact screwdiver slot bit to fit. One hard hit with a hammer will usually do it.
Just watch your depth so as not to remove too much of the head.