A question about stripped screws

[carpenator]

Sometimes if it is stripped out enough you can get a squarebit or a star bit to grab. A lot has to do with how tight you cranked it down, this can be a life long lesson for not screwing things down too tight. You can tell that we have all been down this road, though most of us it is because someone else tightened it down too much.

These are the McGyver moments where you get all the tools, duct tape, bailing wire, and misc. parts together and you figure out what now. Sears sells some bits for pulling screws out, but I would think a fan screw would be too small.

The JB Weld to retap the screw might work, but I would think that the other suggestions would be better. Of course if you are a JB Weld guru make sure to take pictures.

Good luck!

[tiredoldman]

And if all else fails ??? VISE-GRIPS works sometimes on stripped screwheads. NOT to be confused with ScrewUPS !Like me !!!
Or if you can find someone with a pair of fence pliers, the cutting head works great for squeezing the end to turn it.

[gvblake22]

Yeah, I second (or third, whatever) the vise-grips. You can clamp those things on stuff really tight and I've seen them unscrew some ridiculous things!