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How to Unscrew a Screw Without a Screwdriver? (Answered)

Unscrewing a screw without a screwdriver is not as hard as you think. Many household items can help you unscrew a screw without any help from a screwdriver. This article will explain how to unscrew different screws without using a screwdriver.

How To Unscrew A Screw Without A Screwdriver?

Different household tools like knives, fork spoons, nail cutter tools, steel scales can help you unscrew a screw without a  screwdriver. A metal tool that you can hold and have a sharp head can be used to unscrew a screw. Look around your kitchen or explore drawers; you may find something suitable.

If you are among the ordinary people, you don’t keep screwdrivers in your pocket or probably don’t even have one. But in many situations, you may need to open or fix something (or at least try), but the screws are the first obstacle you need to overcome.

I have at least ten years of experience unscrewing my toy cars and machines to see what’s inside without a screwdriver. I thought I should be an engineer, but I didn’t know I stink at maths.

However, I am not an engineer today, but my curiosity helped me find different ways to unscrew screws without a screwdriver (and break a thing that was working damn fine).

The first thing you can use is a kitchen knife. It works great when the screw is in the outer part. But if the screw is inside a hole, the knife is mostly useless.

However, if the hole is not too deep, you can use the knife to make the hole bigger until you reach the screw.

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that you will be able to unscrew the screw with the knife. The process can damage the screw, making the task even harder. The blade can also be damaged while trying this.

The next thing that helped me remove a lot of screws is a fork spoon, although it includes the sacrifice of the spoon. You need to bend three forks of the spoon and leave a suitable one.

Now, use it as a screwdriver. It works fine for small-size cross and flat head screws. You may be able to remove some deep screws with it without much hustle. But the most crucial part of it is hiding the broken spoon before your mom or wife comes. Good luck.

What kind of nail cutter do you have? Does it have some extra tools to clean and shape your nails? Those additional tools often come in handy to unscrew a screw without a screwdriver.

Sometimes thumbnails can be used to unscrew small screws. But don’t try too hard as most of the screws are too tight to unscrew with nails.

There are many types of screws out there, and you may need to adapt and be creative to find a way to unscrew it without damaging the screw. Let’s talk about different types of screws and possible ways to unscrew them without the specified screwdrivers.

Star screw:

The Star screw is one of the most challenging screws to remove without a star screwdriver. It has six notches.

As the notches are tiny, your household tools can slip easily, damage the gaps, and make it harder to unscrew. Here are some tricks you can use to unscrew it.

Flathead screwdriver:

It’s possible to unscrew the star screw with a flathead screwdriver if you have the right size of it. A bigger or smaller screwdriver will not work to remove the screw.

Hex screwdriver:

If you don’t have a star screwdriver, but you have a Hex screwdriver of the right size, you can remove a star screw. Hex screwdriver has a hexagon shape that fits in a star screw if the size is correct.

Hex screw:

Hex screw is also tricky to unscrew without the right tools. Here is what you can do.

Use your toothbrush:

Melt the end part of a plastic toothbrush, press it with the head of the screw and let the plastic get the head shape of the screw. After the plastic cools down, you can rotate the brush anticlockwise to unscrew the screw.

A flathead screwdriver:

If you have a flathead screwdriver of the right size, you can easily unscrew a hex screw.

Square screw:

Squire screws are an unusual type of screw, but if you still need to remove one, here’s what you can do.

Plastic toothbrush method:

Like a hex screw, you can unscrew squire screwdrivers to unscrew squire screws. Melt the last part of the toothbrush.

Melt just enough of the brush and press it with the squire screw head. After the plastic cools down, you have a squire screwdriver.

Flathead screwdriver:

The notches of squire screws are bigger than the hex screws, so you can try to remove them with household tools or flathead screwdrivers.

Cross screw:

Cross screws are the most common are relatively easy screws to remove. Here are the things you can use to remove a cross screw.

Use a knife:

You can use a table knife to unscrew a cross screw. If the blade does not fit in the screw, try tilting it slightly.

Other tools:

You can use a steel scale, nail cutter tools or things like this to unscrew a cross screw.

Deep screw:

Deep screws are hard to unscrew when you don’t have the right tools. Here is what you can do.

Use a knife:

Use a knife to make the hole big until you reach the screw. However, it is not possible for metal things.

Use a fork spoon:

Twist three forks of the fork spoon and keep one in place. Use that to remove deep screws.

Flathead screw:

Flathead screws are the easiest screws to unscrew. Here are the things you can use to unscrew.

A knife:

You can tilt a knife and unscrew the flat head screw by rotating it anticlockwise.

Others:

You can use a steel scale, nail cutter and household tools to remove a flathead screw.

Triangle screw:

Removing triangle screws with things like knives is not possible in most cases. Here’s what you can do.

Use a plastic toothbrush:

A melted plastic toothbrush can help you unscrew a triangle screw.

Use a plus:

This can try to hold the screw with a plus and rotate it if the screw is big enough.

Torx screw:

Trox screws also have six notches and can be removed like star screws.

Use a flat-head screwdriver:

A flathead screwdriver of the right size can help you unscrew a Torx screw.

Use a knife:

Sometimes a knife can work to unscrew a Torx screw. Don’t try to unscrew old and rusty Trox screw with a knife.

Philips head screw:

Phillips head screws and cross head screws are the same. Here’s how to remove it.

Use a steel scale:

You can use a steel scale to unscrew a Phillips head screw.

Other household tools:

You can use other household tools like knives, fork spoons etc., to unscrew a Phillips head spoon.

Will unscrewing a screw without a screwdriver ruin it?

Unscrewing a screw without a screwdriver can damage the screw a bit. A damaged screw is almost impossible to unscrew without the right tools.

Still, you can take the risk as most of the damaged screws can be unscrewed with the right screwdriver. But make sure you are not destroying all the notches of the screw completely.

The screw can get ruined even with the right tools if you rotate the wrong way. Rotate counterclockwise while you are unscrewing a screw.

What to use if you don’t have a screwdriver?

Here is the list of things you can use to unscrew a screw.

Knives:

Knives are readily available in your kitchen, and it’s your best friend when it comes to unscrewing with the right tools.

Steel scale:

Steel scales are not Sharpe, but it’s enough to unscrew many types of screws.

Nail cutter tools:

Many nail cutters have some tools that You can use to unscrew.

Toothbrush or plastic pen:

By melting toothbrushes or plastic tools, you can unscrew many tricky screws that are almost impossible to remove with other tools.

Vinegar and baking soda:

If the screw is rusty or too tight, you can apply vinegar and baking soda and wait five minutes. It will make the unscrewing easier.

Others:

You can use coins, CDs, thumbnails, and many other things to remove a screw.

Final Thoughts

Sharpe metal tools can help you to unscrew screws without a screwdriver. It’s necessary to understand the screw type and find the right tools that may help to remove the screw. You can use a plastic brush to unscrew complicated screws like hex or squire screws.