There’s nothing more frustrating (at least in the shop) than breaking off the head of a screw, especially when I’m installing hinges. Fortunately, I’ve found a fast and easy way to remove broken screws without having to plug and re-drill the hole. The Unscrew-Ums Screw Extractor is a hollow bit with sawteeth on the end that chucks into your drill. To remove a broken screw, set the drill on reverse and slowly drill into the hole containing the broken screw. The extractor’s teeth will shear off the threads on the upper portion of the screw’s shank, and then the hollow bit expands around it. Once it gets a grip, it backs the broken screw out of the hole, leaving plenty of wood intact to secure another screw.
Unscrew-ums come in a variety of sizes to match the most common screw sizes.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Craftsman Random Orbit Sander
While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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