Remove Broken Screws Without Damaging the Hole

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

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.

Buy at Amazon

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.

Buy at Amazon

Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

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.

Buy at Amazon