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frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 06:18 PM

I've been changing the door knobs on the kitchen cupboards and a few can't be removed for replacement because the screws are stuck. After repeatedly trying to losen the screws, the thread is starting to wear. I've already tried placing a screwdriver and a knife on the thread and turning the handle as well holding the door knob still while just using the screwdriver. Would WD40 help or is there another trick to this?

Clough · Jan 5, 2009, 06:22 PM

Hi, frangipanis!

Are these single screws in the middle of the handles? Are you able to turn the screws at all?

Thanks!

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 06:39 PM

Hi Clough

They're single screw handles and no, I can't seem to budge them at all. A few have been fine.

Clough · Jan 5, 2009, 06:54 PM

Do the screws go all the way through the doors? If you can see any of the threads, do the threads appear to be very close together at right angles to the screws, or do they appear to be somewhat spaced apart and spiraling?

Thanks!

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 07:43 PM

The screws go all the way through the door Clough, and there is no thread visible on the ones that are stuck.

ballengerb1 · Jan 5, 2009, 07:47 PM

If you get stuck just get a drill bit the size of the screws you have already removed. Drill of the head of the screw from inside the cabinet

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 07:52 PM

I'll give it a try, thanks ballenger.

21boat · Jan 5, 2009, 07:53 PM

Hi guys! And gails!
This takes two people to do. One person holds the door and the screwdriver on the screw. Second person uses a vice grip on the screwdriver and turn that while you hammer tap the screwdriver head do it several times and see how that does. Its like using an impact wrench to brake the screw loose. Commercially we use an hand held impact screw driver that when you hit it it does a slight twist to brake the screw loose. Be carefully not to mess up the screw head. If too much hassel drill head of like ballenger1 said

ballengerb1 · Jan 5, 2009, 07:54 PM

My approach takes two people also. Me holding the elctric drill and you holding my beer while I work. It always helps to have an apprentice.

21boat · Jan 5, 2009, 08:05 PM

Im redy to woorrrkk nnooww.:cool:
The drill works perfect until I come in and see the homer drill part of the head off and opps here goes the wood trying to recenter bit on metal. I do a lot of work on hollow metal doors and frames and old rusted hinges screw gets real tough at times. But that is a can of beer and one foreman and one project manager and one underpaid worker doing the actual Job and then he drinks many beers later:D

Clough · Jan 5, 2009, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by frangipanis

the screws go all the way through the door Clough, and there is no thread visible on the ones that are stuck.

If the threads go all the way through the doors, then they might be machine screws that are screwed into some kind of metal either inside the doors or on the inside surface of the doors. If that might be the case, then I would look for some kind of fastener to be present.

Thanks!

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by 21boat

Im redy to woorrrkk nnooww.:cool:
the drill works perfect until I come in and see the homer drill part of the head off and opps here goes the wood trying to recenter bit on metal. I do alot of work on hollow metal doors and frames and old rusted hinges screw gets real tough at times. But that is a can of beer and one foreman and one project manager and one underpaid worker doing the actual Job and then he drinks many beers later:D

My partner's a project manager and a good handyman who's going to love that! If only I could get him to put his glass down long enough to actually help me with the kitchen door handles instead of offering his advice from afar.

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Clough

If the threads go all the way through the doors, then they might be machine screws that are screwed into some kind of metal either inside the doors or on the inside surface of the doors. If that might be the case, then I would look for some kind of fastener to be present.

Thanks!

Thanks, Clough. The ones I've managed to extract go straight through the wood of the door... there's no metal.

21boat · Jan 5, 2009, 08:30 PM

Sadly to say I own the my construction business and many times I wish I was the labor and now worries that way. There is bliss in many things

But frangipanis that project mangers do manage and offer advice and he's using his best skills as qualfied person there overseeing the work at hand:p:p

Clough · Jan 5, 2009, 08:30 PM

Are the doors painted, inside and out, or natural wood, please?

Thanks!

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by 21boat

Sadly to say I own the my construction business and many times I wish I was the labor and now worries that way. There is bliss in many things

But frangipanis that project mangers do manage and offer advice and he's using his best skills as qualfied person there overseeing the work at hand:p:p

He's going to love you.. lol He's already tiled my bathroom walls and is promising to do the floors in the bathroom, toilet and laundry in the next few weeks, so he's not all bad... then I get to help him paint his garage, and so it goes :)

frangipanis · Jan 5, 2009, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Clough

Are the doors painted, inside and out, or natural wood, please?

Thanks!

They're natural wood, Clough.

Clough · Jan 5, 2009, 11:28 PM

If they're natural wood, then I would be very careful not to muck up any of the wood on the outside of the doors. I would do any drilling from the inside, and do so very gradually.

If they were painted, you could easily fill and touch things up depending on what you needed to do to extract the screws.

Thanks!

foresaken_one · Jan 5, 2009, 11:48 PM

If you go to home depot they sell a kit just for this specific purpose in the hardware department

frangipanis · Jan 6, 2009, 03:12 PM

Thanks foresaken. I might have to do that since I'm still not having any luck with it using a hammer (I'm probably not doing it right) and a bit unsure about using a drill. I'll be curious to see what's in the kit.