So I stripped a screw and I cant close my front door...

[purr]

I am so pissed off.. hubby is working until 6 and I cant close my front door.

I know its my fault. Heres the story. My deadbolt wouldnt open this morning so I had to use the back door all day. I took off the deadbolt and got a new one.

Got everything installed great.. except the hole in the door jam where the deadbolt locks into.

The screws were a little too long for my door and I think I hit something metal inside that wouldnt let me put the screw in all the way. So in my attempt to screw the screw in, I majorily stripped the inside of the screw to the point of theres a big gaping hole in the middle of it.

Sigh.. at least I tried!

I can close my door enough that my alarm will set, but I'm worried that if a breeze comes along it'll go off and whoops.. theres a false alarm on me.

[trof]

1. Can you get the screw back out?

[purr]

2. Nope.. its stuck.. Tried to use a hammer claw to pull it out

and I just messed up my trim :cry:

I think I should let it go until he comes home before I destroy my door.

[jobycom]

3. OMG! I can't wait for the copycats on this thread title!

If the head of the screw is sticking out a little, you can grip it with vice grips and twist it out.

Don't fret, I've done the same thing many a time. The screws that come with deabolt kits round out too easily.

[purr]

4. Its sticking out about 1/2"

Now where to find the vice grips is the question :)

I tried pliers and that just didnt cut it. I had to use the other screws from my old deadbolt thing.


Oh bring on the copycats this should be good :)

[jobycom]

5. Pliers won't work,

With vice grips, loosen them up, then tighten them so they fit the screw head. Then take them off the screw and tighten them a bit more, then clamp them on the screw again. Make it so that you have to squeeze as hard as you can to get them to lock into place. Then just twist the screw out. They may come off a couple of times, but just clamp them back off. Once you get it started turning, it will come out pretty easily.

[purr]

6. k thanks!! off to find some vice grips

:)

[trof]

8. Just what I was going to suggest.

Great minds think alike.

[Hotler]

7. Put a couple of phone books behind the door..

so it won't blow open. If it's a flat head screw you can drill just enough of the head off to remove the deadbolt and then grip the end of the screw with a good pair of vise-grips and unscrew it. (use a drill bit as close to the same size as the screw head.) If it's a round headed screw you can take a hacksaw blade or Dremmel tool and cut a slot for a straight bladed screw driver. (make the cut just wide enough to fit the screw driver blade without to much slop.)