My quick drawer fix turned into a two-day project because of stripped screws

I tried to tighten a loose kitchen drawer and every single screw was stripped. I spent over 14 hours drilling them out and re-tapping the holes. Anyone have a better method for dealing with this?

3 comments

3 Comments

tylerg301mo ago

Ever try using a rubber band between the screw and the driver?

patel.alice1mo ago

What kind of stripped-out junk screw are you even working with? That trick is a total last resort and usually just makes a greasy mess. You're way better off using the right bit or a proper extractor set from the start. Trying to force it with a rubber band just wastes time and wrecks the driver head.

cole_walker2615d ago

Wait, have you actually gotten that rubber band trick to work more than once? I've tried it exactly two times and both times it just shredded the band and left this sticky mess all over the screw head. Seems like one of those life hacks that works great in a perfect world but falls apart the second you're dealing with any real torque or a screw that's actually stuck. Maybe if you're working with something really tiny and delicate? Otherwise I'm with the other person on just using the right bit from the start.