kair65•4h ago

Striped a tiny screw on a shutter curtain last week - how do you guys deal with seized screws?

2 comments

2 Comments

Start with a tiny drop of penetrating oil and let it sit for a few hours before trying anything. Heat from a soldering iron on the screw head can also break the bond without damaging the surrounding curtain. I've saved more than a few old shutters this way, so I push back on people jumping straight to screw extractors or drills. Those tools often just make the problem worse and ruin the part for good. Patience and the right lube have always worked better for me than going in with force right away.

allen.william2h ago

WD40 isn't actually a penetrating oil, its more of a solvent and light lube. You want something like PB Blaster or Kroil that actually creeps into the threads. Learned that the hard way after soaking a bolt for days with no luck.