This is part two of a series on screw extractors. These are handy little tools that come quite in handy any time you have a screw head that has become stripped out or that has broken off, or if you have a bolt that has a head that has become stripped or broken off. Without such a tool, these things can be absolutely impossible to remove.

The T Handle -

The T handle is designed to fasten into the top square end of a screw extractor. If you do not want to use a screw extractor's t-handle, you can use vice grip pliers or an adjustable wrench instead.

It should be fairly obvious how the T-handle got its name, since it is shaped similarly to a T. This particular type of handle has been designed to screw down over the top of the screw extractor bit's square end. Once it has been tightened down, you can easily turn the screw extractor, creating more pressure than if you were holding the screw extractor with pliers or a wrench.

Drilling a Pilot Hole in a Damaged Screw

If you have a damaged screw or a damaged bolt, then the first step in removing it is going to be to prepare it for the insertion of your screw extractor bit. Your screw extractor bit has been designed in order to screw directly into the damaged screw or stripped bolt, but it cannot be inserted until a pilot hole has been drilled.

• You are going to want to begin with a power drill, drilling a hole directly into the center of the screw that has been damaged.
• Oftentimes, the surface of the screw that has been damaged is not even, and so the best way for you to begin the pilot hole is going to be to use a very small bit, such as 1/16" diameter. You should try to begin at least a starter hole before you can use a larger drill that is sized adequately for whatever screw extractor you are going to be using.
• You should make sure to drill carefully and slowly into your damaged screw with the right sized drill bit for the screw extractor based on what the package tells you. The package that comes with your screw extractor will tell you which drill bit is ideal. The pilot hole diameter is likely going to vary based on whichever screw extractor you are using.
• Take care to make sure that you do not break the drill bit off in the hole that you are drilling.

Once you've drilled the appropriate pilot hole, you can insert the screw extractor according to the manufacturer's direction and can apply the right screwing and pressure to remove the broken screw or stripped bolt.

Photo Credits: Honda CB77 Restoration

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Handy Man, Remove, Tools

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adjustable wrench, bolt, diameter, drill bit, insertion, pilot hole, screw extractor, screw extractors, screw head, vice grip pliers