Screw stuck in chair

Annie1960

I am refurbishing some dining chairs at the moment. I have stripped down the first one, removed the back and back legs, and am trying to remove the front legs.

The final screw that holds a piece of wood diagonally across the corner is stuck. It's a Phillips screw, and I've tried it so many times it's starting to lose its ability to grip the screwdriver if you know what I mean.

I've sprayed furniture polish with wax on it, whacked it with the hammer, but it's firmly stuck.

Any other suggestions how I can remove it without damaging the chair?

London50

One "trick" I have used in the past with stuck screws in wood was to heat the screw head for a few mins with a hairdryer, it may sound strange but has worked for me a few times :0)

Annie1960

London50 wrote: »

One "trick" I have used in the past with stuck screws in wood was to heat the screw head for a few mins with a hairdryer, it may sound strange but has worked for me a few times :0)

I'll give this a try - I've used this on stuck jam jar lids in the past, but didn't think of it for wood.

London50

Good luck :0), the only other choice {but you need a very steady hand} is to get a screw extractor set. You need to drill a small pilot hole in the head of the screw then use the extractor {it has a reverse thread on it}that will do the job but as I say you need a very steady hand to drill the pilot hole to start it off :0)

Sam_Fallow

if you are doing a few then it might be worthwhile investing in one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boa-Grabit-Damaged-Screw-Remover/dp/B00096JDL2

Annie1960

Hairdryer didn't work.

London50

Annie1960 wrote: »

Hairdryer didn't work.

Sorry to hear it but it was worth a try, looks like the screw extractor route is the only other thing I can think of :0(

Annie1960

The screw is recessed into the wood - will this make a difference?

London50

No with an extractor you drill a pilot hole then insert the extractor to remove the screw, they work with both surface or recessed screws

Norman_Castle

Is the screw in a corner brace? Either drill the head off or cut into it with a hacksaw across the screw head giving the screw a slotted head or if you are able to make a replacement brace cut the brace off and remove the screw with pliers.

Alternately refurbish the chairs without taking them apart.

shaun_from_Africa

There is a very good product called ezgrip that I use at work.
http://www.ezgrip.net/
If you can find any of this or a similar item in the UK, it might help get the screw out.

If you can't get any, a small dab of grinding paste on the screw head will help stop the screwdriver slipping out of the recess.