Stuck Screws

jakeblu

jakeblu

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Hope you didn't click into this hoping to see something exciting ;)

I have a kitchen cabinet I'm trying to get off the wall undamaged. Its been attached by someone who has driven 8 screws through the backboard and into the wall, as best as I can see the backboard is around 15mm. The screws are locked in there and I am unable to move them. I was thinking of maybe drilling around the screw with a hole cutter but most seem to have a drill bit inside, obviously that would be no good. Any one any ideas of the best way to get this off?
 
Might be worth trying an impact driver to start the screws undoing. Failing that, the holesaw option using a larger saw diameter might allow the removal of the cabinet but would obviously leave the screws in the wall. Maybe a large pair of mole grips or similar would get them out. Maybe an angle grinder to remove the heads of the screws and allow the cabinet to be pulled off over what remains of the shanks?
 
you could drill the heads off then either try and get hold of whats sticking out with a pair of mole grips( try hitting them with a hammer top bottom left and right first to loosen them) or grind the rest of the screw flush
 
@Nod @chris954 @Mikesphotaes @mark richards Thanks everyone for the advice, I don't have an impact driver so thats not an immediate option, from the way they are stuck solid I fancy they were put in with one of those. I'm thinking the hole saw seems my best bet. I do have an angle grinder but not sure I could cut the ends off the screws without damaging the unit, If I could that might be ideal.
 
If there is space to get a ratchet in, that extra leverage sometimes works. Screwdriver bit or use a tight fitting socket over the handle (preferably not a round profile) of your existing screwdriver.
 
jakeblu said:
Hope you didn't click into this hoping to see something exciting ;)

I have a kitchen cabinet I'm trying to get off the wall undamaged. Its been attached by someone who has driven 8 screws through the backboard and into the wall, as best as I can see the backboard is around 15mm. The screws are locked in there and I am unable to move them. I was thinking of maybe drilling around the screw with a hole cutter but most seem to have a drill bit inside, obviously that would be no good. Any one any ideas of the best way to get this off?
Click to expand...

Are the heads good ? Are they flat or Pozi or Phillips drive ?

If you can use a long screwdriver as it'll give you a bit more purchase and you might be able to shift them.

The tap with a hammer will help on occasions.

If all else fails, then the safest way to preserve the units is to drill the head off - use a drill bit similar size and drill the head off

Hope you manage to get them off :)
 
Have you tried tightening them in the way?
It sometimes helps to do this before unscrewing.

As above, hammer and good fitting screwdriver.
What type of head do the screws have? Slot, Phillips or Pozidrive?
screws_phillips_pozidriv_comparison.jpg
 
As above for starting the screws off again, otherwise If you need to cut out you could try a Tile Hole Saw as they don't have the pilot bit. Drill a hole in a bit of ply first then lightly screw or hold ply to backboard. This method, but with a clamp is used when cutting out holes for pipes when tiling. You will probably get something like these in the UK >http://www.banggood.com/3mm-125mm-D...onic-xiao-uk&gclid=CK_w0df41skCFdTNGwodBNoIUQ

The problem with kitchen screws they rust die to the amount of condensation the room creates.
 
kendo1 said:
Have you tried tightening them in the way?
It sometimes helps to do this before unscrewing.

As above, hammer and good fitting screwdriver.
What type of head do the screws have? Slot, Phillips or Pozidrive?
View attachment 52259
Click to expand...

I'd go with Kendo's approach - tighten a little first to break the 'lock' then undo. Also a snug fitting driver is essential, and using phillips in pozi & vice versa will only end in disappointment - the bit should be so tight that it almost locks in.
 
Once you have got them out, rub new ones with soap on the threads before use.
 
Candle wax is better - soap sometimes has salt in it.
 
Narrow bladed multi cutter/plunge saw. Cut a square around them as close to the screw as you can. When the units are off, use a claw hammer.
 
If the screw heads aren't deeply countersunk, I'd use a small grinder to gently tickle the heads, at 90deg to the cabinet back. Concentrate on the centre of the head & it'll pop off, leaving just the shafts. Pull the cabinet off & then deal with the screws.
 
If they are philips ot posidrive it is very easy to drill the heads off as they are ready centred. Choose a drill bit a little larger than the shaft of the screw. (all screws with the same size head have the same size shaft)
You will then be able to remove the cabinet, leaving the screws in place.

The screws are then easily removed with a mole wrench or the like.
Done it many times got the T shirt.
 
Thanks everyone for the great response, in the end I drilled off the tops of the screw and pulled the cupboard over the threads, before removing the threads with an angle grinder. They were a real b****r to remove although to be fair my DIY skills are pretty cr@p, I didn't even know there was a difference between a posi head and a philips o_O
 
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Now
jakeblu said:
Thanks everyone for the great response, in the end I drilled off the tops of the screw and pulled the cupboard over the threads, before removing the threads with an angle grinder. They were a real b****r to remove although to be fair my DIY skills are pretty cr@p, I didn't even know there was a difference between a posi head and a philips o_O
Click to expand...

you can buy the T Shirt.
 
jakeblu said:
..., I didn't even know there was a difference between a posi head and a philips o_O
Click to expand...

It's fairly common, people think 'cross head screws' , but how many people think 'telephoto' means 'long focal length'?
 
About the same number as think retro focus means no AF!!! ;)
 
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