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Removing drywall screws

claytonrogers's picture

Removing drywall screws (post #205622)

claytonrogers on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 14:31
in

How do ya'll remove drywall screws either stripped or filled with mud, with the drywall in place or with it torn out?

-A +A

If the drywall is gone, a (post #205622, reply #1 of 5)

by DanH in reply to claytonrogers [original] on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 15:06

If the drywall is gone, a pair of ViceGrips is the way to go.  Otherwise, a good impact driver (preferably the manual type) will get any screw that isn't totally stripped.  And there are some special bits that are designed to remove stripped Phillips screws.

(If the screw head is just filled with mud use a long #2 tip and give it a few taps with a hammer to break the mud out.)

Manual impact driver: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-impact-dr...

Special screw removal bits: http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/search_10...


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clayton (post #205622, reply #2 of 5)

by calvin in reply to claytonrogers [original] on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 16:04

Unless it's very unusual, take the gun with a good bit and jamb it in the screw-hold good pressure against it and feather the trigger.

That is, if you want to remove a bigger sheet, rather than a bunch of pcs. 

Otherwise, you can beat the snot out of the board, ripping and tearing-deal with the screws by yanking, busting off or unscrewing.  Each according to what you are trying to acheive.

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The great thing about a (post #205622, reply #3 of 5)

by xxPaulCPxx in reply to claytonrogers [original] on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 11:27

The great thing about a drywall screw is that it's 1.  Hardened Steel 2.  It's got a very thin diameter.

Use this to your advantage, just whack it from the side with a hammer.  It should cleanly snap off.

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You may need to clean (post #205622, reply #4 of 5)

by brettly in reply to claytonrogers [original] on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 13:39

You may need to clean compound from the screw with utility knife before backing the screw out

I like to use a hammer drill (post #205622, reply #5 of 5)

by MarkH in reply to claytonrogers [original] on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 15:38

I like to use a hammer drill to back out drywall screws.  Use low range, the hammer action pounds the bit in tight.  Sometimes a whack on a phillips screwdriver in the screwhead will help get the drill to get started.  But breaking them off a stripped wall is faster, and a lot will yank out with a crowbar too.