Now here's the drill question

wolfehouse

i need to take down my old tv wall bracket but the screws are so ruined that no screwdriver will fit anymore. I have been told to drill straight through them.

What kind of drill bit do i need to use? and should my cheapo powerdrill be up to it?

thanks

ailuro2

hmm, depends really- you need a drill that has HSS or similar written on it- and it the same diameter all the way down, not a masonry drill.

It will likely be dark grey.

I'd not try to drill it straight away- have you tried putting the screwdriver in what is left of the slot and giving it a good sharp tap? Sometimes this is enough to loosen it off and get it turning.

Other tools to try are mole grips/vice grips across the head to grab and turn, or even to squeeze the slot in a bit.

Sometimes it is possible to hacksaw a new slot at right angles to the old one.

DO NOT lever anything against the wall to try to prise it out as you may end up with a bigger hole than you can easily fill.

WD40 sprayed onto the screw may help too.

Hitch

If you need to drill them out, you will be best off using a HSS bit (suitable for drilling metal)

Use a size that is approx half the diameter of the screw head. This will allow the heads to be removed and the bracket removed. Then a pair of pliers or vice grips to remover the shank of the screw.

For tips, have a look at Ultimate handymanin the metalworking section.

wolfehouse

thanks so much
my OH managed with some sort of grip tool
i never could have done it and now, thanks to your help i feel prepared for the next crisis. i already know of another project that probably will need screws to be drilled- so thanks.

andrewmoorcroft

I'd use a big drill bit that will take off the whole head of the screw leaving the shank in the wall.
The problem with using a smaller diameter one is that you may leave some of the head part attached to the shank. When a small bit goes through the head it will tend to wonder and slip down the shank leaving the head still part attached to the shank.