How to remove Rounded hex headed screws (Ed..)

[Jcotsen]

I have all these huge hex screws in my sleepers in the garden that I need to remove but they are all rounded or rusted and a drill can not get them out. Any advice on how to remove them please! Thank you.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Poss try a hacksaw or Dremel to cut a slot across hex and undo with flat screwdriver.

 

[motorbiking]

mole grips

 

[opps]

It may be the case that your drill doesn't have enough (of the correct type of) torque to remove them.

By way of an example, a couple of years ago I had to remove screws from fence posts fitted to a brick wall. I started off with a cordless drill and realised that I was starting to round out the pozidrive screw heads. I couldn't budge them even using hand screwdrivers. When I purchased the aforementioned cordless drill it was bundled with a cordless impact driver. I had nothing to lose, so I tried it. It effortlessly removed all bar two screws (out of about 40).

An impact driver hits a rotational hammer that helps it "nudge the screw/bolt to help remove it. Hopefully, someone else can explain it more clearly.

Impact drivers are available in two forms.. The smaller ones will accept hex screw bits or smaller hex socket bits. Impact wrenches will accept larger sized socket bits.

When you watch Formula 1, they use impact wrenches to fit the wheels. The loud noise is the anvil assisting the rotation.

 

[foxhole]

You need an impact driver and correct bit not a drill. Easy job with correct tool.

 

[robinbanks]

Show us a pic of the socket you're using on them (show the hole the bolt goes into) and tell us what size it is- looks like an 8mm bolt to me

The bolt pictured looks like it still has enough left to grip so long as the socket isn't ruined or a 12 point star

If you've reached a point where it's rounded too much you may need to consider using an angle grinder with a thin blade to cut part of the head off to leave you with two decent sized flat spots either side and clamp some mole grips on. If really ruined you may need to grid the head off then see if you can separate the sides with a heavy hammer. Those bolts are usually only partially threaded so the wood under the head won't have as many threads gripping it to the other side

 

[Burnerman]

An 8mm full hexagon socket should shift that without any issues.
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

An 8mm full hexagon socket should shift that without any issues.
John

Even better than the hexagon socket, are the type which grip and wedge themselves tightly onto the flat faces of the bolt head.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Commonly referred to as flank drive.

Or apprentice proof