Are you wondering how to loosen tight screws on electronics? Whether you are changing a battery on a laptop or doing surgery on a phone, you are going to come across tight screws that need to be loosened. I have put together several tips that will help you loosen that screw and get going with your project!
Hit the Screwdriver Head with a Hammer
Tools you will need:
- hammer
- screwdriver
One of my favorite techniques is to put the screwdriver in the screw and then hit the top of the screwdriver with a hammer. This will send a forceful impact into the screw and knock it loose. After you hit it with a hammer, start moving the screwdriver again to see if the screw has come loose.
Use a Rubber Band
Tools you will need:
- Rubber band
- Screwdriver
If you are trying to loosen a screw that has been stripped, you can use a rubber band to help your screwdriver get a better grip on the screw. All you have to do is place the rubber band over the screw. Then place the screwdriver in the screw with the rubber band. Then try to turn the screw with the rubber band inside. The rubber band helps the screwdriver get a grip on the stripped screw.
Try a Different Screwdriver
You will need:
- Phillips head screwdrivers (various sizes)
- Flat head screwdriver (various sizes)
- Electric screwdriver
- Drill
Another option is to try another screwdriver. If you are using a phillips head screw driver and that is not working, try a flat head screw driver. If you are using a flat head screwdriver, try a phillips head screwdriver. Try an electric screw driver. You can try using a drill too. Make sure you don’t need a Y or tri-wing screw driver. Nintendo products aften have screws that specifically need a tri-wing screwdriver. Trust me, you will not be able to get a tri-wing screw out with a phillips head screw driver. I have tried. It’s damn near impossible.
Use a Hammer and Pliers
Tools you will need:
- hammer
- pliers with good grip
- screwdriver
This technique is similar to the hammer technique. First you will hammer the screwdriver while it is in the screw. Then you will leave the hammer using pressure with one hand on the screwdriver. With the other hand you will grip the screwdriver with the pliers and attempt to turn the screwdriver with the pliers while turning the hammer at the same time. This technique works because the pliers will be able to grip and turn the screwdriver better than your hands.
Glue and Nut Technique
Tools you will need:
- A nut about the diameter of the screw
- Heavy duty glue, such as gorilla glue
- Pliers
This technique can be tricky, but might work if everything else fails. For this one, you will glue the nut to the top of the screw. Make sure no glue gets on the edges of the screw or seeps inside the screw hole. Also, make sure the glue is dry for several hours or days until you attempt to turn the nut. When the nut is dry and glued securely to the screw, you can use a pair of pliers to turn the nut and essentially turn the screw.
Conclusion
By now, I hope you have learned how to loosen tight screws on electronics. Let us know in the comments below which technique works and which doesn’t!
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