Removing worn soft metal X screws! ???

RealGem

Hi,

I need to move a hanging basket that my elderly aunt's handyman has put up onto her house, as it's too close to her front door and she can't use her brolly without the basket getting whacked by her head or her brolly!

(and she's funny about her perm)

But the metal bracket that holds it to the brick porch has X head screws in it, and when she tried unscrewing them herself, they proved to be soft metal.

So now the Xs on two out of the three screws look more like worn-away valleys.

I can't get the man to come back because he goes on holiday tomorrow.

Is there another way I can get the screws out please? (like with special pliers or something?)

(or a drill with a screw driver bit on - will that work for the worn away screws? [probably a stupid question!])

Or is she stuck with the bracket in an inconvenient place?

Thanks a lot

TidyMax

If the screws aren't too far chewed up then you can still get them out. If you get a good fitting screw driver (so not too big, not too small!) then get all of your weight behind it you may be able to unscrew them.

If any of the screw head is protruding, most commonly when someone has used countersunk screws on a non counter sunk surface, you will be able to get some pliers gripped on to the head and twist it.

Worst comes to worst, you need to get something behind the bracket to snap the screw/rip the screw out of the wall. This is probably the most common solution when the screw head is too far gone. If the screw has rusted then this will be the easy option!

You can buy an impact driver (i think machine mart do a cheap one for about £10). where you put a screwdriver bit in the end, place it on the screw, then whack it with a hammer. The force of hitting the impact driver also makes the screwdriver bit turn (either tighten or loosen depending on what you have selected).

You could also just try gently tapping a cross head screw driver with a hammer on to the screw and try and try a knock a bit of grip back in but i doubt that will work!

Hope any of those suggestions help.

RealGem

Thanks a lot TidyMax, we will try your helpful suggestions.

ManAtHome

Or drill down the middle of the screw - should only need 1/4 inch or so to weaken the screw head, then a good tug of the bracket should pull it off. The rest of the screw should un-screwable with mole grips (or bashable with a hammer...).

RealGem

Thanks a lot ManAtHome

(Google images: ...mole grips...
- Oh that's what those are called!)

cheers!

wallbash

A replacement bracket is going to be cheap.
If they are anything like mine, pulling down sharply will either pull the screws out of the wall or snap the bracket at the point of exit of the screw.
Thereby exposing enough of screw to grab with a pair of pliers.

To sum up , use brute force.