Stripping stripped screws with a rubber band actually works

I saw a tip online about using a rubber band over a stripped screw head to get grip, so I tried it on a stuck cabinet hinge screw in my kitchen last night. It grabbed on the third try and saved me from drilling it out. Has anyone else had luck with this or found a better trick for stubborn screws?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor92928d ago

My buddy tried that rubber band trick on a stuck screw in his patio furniture and it just shredded the band. He ended up taking a flathead screwdriver and tapping it into the stripped head with a hammer, that actually worked way better.

nathan_patel28d ago

I hear you on the flathead trick, that's a solid backup for sure. But I gotta disagree a little. In my experience, the rubber band method can work if you use a fresh thick band and push down hard with a bit that fits really tight. I've saved a few stripped screws in plastic furniture that way. Your buddy's method probably works better on metal screws that are already gouged up, but it can also crack the screw head or strip it more if you're not careful. Just my two cents.