I've got a screw that's stuck because the brass insert in my hinges broke loose. I've tried angling it in various directions to see if it could grip enough to remove the screw, but no luck so far. I'm looking for some other solutions before I resort to cutting the top off the screw and hope that using two screws for the hinge would be okay. Here's a link to an image for reference: https://imgur.com/a/ZzIUlRW
3 Answers
If you can, try removing the hinge entirely first. The screw and the anchor should come out with it. Then use pliers to grip the anchor while you twist the screw out. After that, using something like plastic epoxy or JB Weld to reinstall the anchor could be your best bet. A wooden toothpick in the anchor can help keep the glue out too!
Another approach is to apply upward force to the screw while you try to turn it. This pressure should push the brass insert up into the hinge, which might help stabilize it while you unscrew.
Cutting the top off might be your best bet, honestly. Trying to hold the brass insert steady while unscrewing will probably be tricky. Replacing the hinge is an option too, but using just two screws could work fine as long as it doesn’t get too wobbly.
Thanks for the tips! Just to clarify, the hinge has already been removed, so I'm considering cutting the screw's head off.