Screw extractors & sets

Screw extractors & sets: what you need to know

Automotive repairs often involve removing damaged bolts, screws, threaded pins and other fasteners. It isn’t always possible to solve this task with the help of pliers or spanner. In these cases, an extractor is used. This is a hand tool made in the form of a rod. It is inserted in the hole drilled in the centre of the deformed fastener, and twisted out together with the stuck part.

As fasteners differ in the diameter of the thread, to remove them you might need tools of different sizes. The most convenient is to buy a set of extractors that can also contain metal drill bits, tap wrenches, turn nuts and others.

What are the types of extractors?

By design:

• Straight fluted extractors. They have a faceted conical shape and are hammered into the damaged fastener. These tools are easy to use and are quite inexpensive. They can be used both for the right-hand and left-hand thread fasteners.
• Spiral fluted extractors. They are threaded elements. They are screwed into the fastener and then removed together. To do this task, you’ll have to use a tap wrench.

Manufacturers use different high-strength materials for the production of these tools. Most often, it is chrome vanadium or chrome-molybdenum steel.

Tips on using extractors

Use these tools only in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Before you start, apply penetrating lubricant to the stuck fastener. If there are rust spots on it, use a special rust solvent. Thus, the removal will take up less time.

Before drilling a hole, mark the centre of the part with a centre punch. Use a drill bit of an appropriate diameter and a special guide sleeve for centering the bit.

When using a spiral device, bear in mind that you can turn it only in the direction of the thread. Otherwise, it is possible to damage the tool.

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