Have you encountered stubborn, rusted screws and nails and want to know the best way to remove them? Then you’ve come to the right place. Screws and nails are usually made from metals such as iron and steel, so they begin to rust when exposed to oxygen and moisture over time. This makes them strenuous to deal with.
However, with the right tools, products and information, you can get rid of them quite quickly.
Table of Contents:
- What You Need to Remove Rusted Nails And Screws
- A Few Important Notes Before We Begin
- How to Remove Rusted Screws
- How to Remove Rusted Nails
- How to Prevent Screws And Nails From Rusting
- Trust Construction Fasteners and Tools for Quality Products and Services
What You Need to Remove Rusted Nails And Screws
Fasteners like nails and screws help you hold materials together, but you may want to remove them when they get old and rusty. The things you’ll need depend on the method you wish to employ. However, there are general safety gears to protect you through the process. These include:
- Gloves
- Eye goggles
- Surgical mask
- Fire extinguisher
- Workwear
- Apron
- First aid kit
What You Need to Remove Rusted Nails
The tools for rusted nail removal include:
- Claw hammer
- Plier
- Drill
- Chisel
What You Need to Remove Rusted Screws
The tools for rusted screw removal include:
- Metal hammer
- Screwdriver
- Impact screwdriver
- Blow torch
- Rotary tool kit
- Commercial rust penetrant
- Rubber band
- Gripping paste
- Degreaser
- Water
A Few Important Notes Before We Begin
Before removing the screws or nails or when handling tools in general, it helps to note the following:
- Ensure safety at all times. Wear protective gear to keep you safe from harm. It helps to secure gloves, eye goggles and surgical marks to protect you from breathing in harmful substances.
- If you’re working on an industrial scale, take note of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety guidelines, protocols and standards.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and work in well-ventilated areas.
How to Remove Rusted Screws
The easiest ways to remove rusted screws are using rubber and a screwdriver, with a hammer and a screwdriver, with heat and cutting grooves. Let’s consider these in detail.
Removing Rusted Screw With Rubber
To remove rusted screws with rubber, take the following steps:
- Cut a piece of rubber and place it over the damaged screw. A rubber band may help in this situation.
- Take a screwdriver and apply pressure on the screw. The rubber fills the void on the screw head and allows it to turn.
- If the screw is seized, place an impact screwdriver on the screw and hit the end with a hammer. That should turn the screw slightly and allow you to remove it with the rubber and screwdriver.
Removing Rusted Screws With Hammer and Screwdriver
If you want to use the metal hammer and screwdriver technique, follow these steps:
- Strike the screw head a few times with the hammer to break the rust seal that causes the screw to seize.
- Spray the commercial rust penetrant on the screw for 15 minutes to soak it and loosen the rust. This also acts as a lubricant.
- Tap the top and the side of the screw head a few more times to prepare the screw for removal.
- Remove the screw using the correct type of screwdriver. If your screwdriver keeps slipping out, use a gripping paste to keep it in place without damaging the screw.
Removing Rusted With Heat
You can also remove the screwdriver with heat by following these steps:
- Clean the screw with a water-based degreaser to prepare it for removal.
- Clean the area thoroughly to control flames since you’ll be dealing with fire.
- Wear your protective gear and keep a fire extinguisher close by. Thick leather gloves protect the hands from burns, while the extinguisher will be helpful to quench unexpected flames.
- Heat the screw with a blow torch and wait for it to emit smoke and steam.
- Douse the screw with cold water immediately until the screw cools down. Heat expands the screw and cooling contrasts it. This rapid exchange breaks the rust seal.
- Repeat the heating and cooling process twice or thrice to ensure the screw is loose.
- Use a screwdriver that matches the screw head to remove it.
Removing Rusted Screws by Cutting Grooves
Another fast way to remove rusted screws is by cutting grooves. The following steps should guide you:
- Wear your gloves and goggles to protect your body.
- Fix the cutting wheel on the rotary tool according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Cut the screwdriver to match the screw head.
- Push the screwdriver into the screw head and turn to remove it.
How to Remove Rusted Nails
The easiest way to remove rusted nails is using a claw hammer or a plier. These steps should guide you:
- Secure a claw hammer and set the claw teeth into the nail head.
- Instead of pulling the nail vertically, pull it sideways. This reduces the hammer’s handle’s stress and makes removing the nail easier.
- Be gentle to avoid damaging the plaster or drywall if the nail is in a wall.
- If the nail protrudes from the other side, hit it until the head emerges. Then use the claw teeth to pull it out.
- If the nail’s head is broken, use a plier to pull it out.
- If there’s no space to hold the nail, drill or chisel the sides slightly to create space, then pull the nail out with the plier. You can use a wood filler on the holes after removing the nail.
How to Prevent Screws And Nails From Rusting
Like how you manage your tools and keep them from rusting, screws and nails require regular cleaning and treatment. You can protect the fasteners as you treat and maintain your tools. However, it helps to give them particular attention. The following tips will help you preserve your screws and nails from rusting:
- Coating: Sealed or painted nails and screws have higher corrosion resistance. The zinc coatings provide an extra protection layer against the elements and increase their durability. That’s why galvanized nails and coated screws are in high demand.
- Stainless steel nails and screws:Stainless steel screws and nails also offer protection against rust. The steel alloy contains chromium which reacts with oxygen and forms the protective layer, making them resistant to corrosion.
- Apply oil: Applying oil coating to nails and screws slows down the corrosion rate and increases their life span. Oil the nails and screws before using them and clean them regularly to return their strength.
- Keep them clean and dry: Keep the exposed surface of your fasteners clean and dry. This reduces the length of contact with dust and moisture, which are high corrosion facilitators.
Trust Construction Fasteners and Tools for Quality Products and Services
Nails and screws help you hold materials firmly together. When the bare nails and screws are exposed to the elements, they rust and lose strength. The first thing you need to do is ensure optimum safety when removing rusted fasteners. Next, secure the necessary tools to ease the process, regardless of the technique you adopt. It’s also important to always purchase quality materials, which saves costs and reduces stress.
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