I'm trying to remove the metal box that holds a bathroom exhaust fan into the ceiling. I've got all the wood screws out but there are 2 sheet metal screws that appear to connect the box to the duct to the outside. The problem is the screw heads are inside the duct and I can't access them. All I can see are the threads. Is there a way to remove the screws from the threaded end? I've tried cutting them off with a hacksaw and a cold chisel. I also tried pounding them out with a hammer.
How to remove a sheet metal screw from the threaded end
bathroom-fixturesmetal-cuttingscrews
Related Topic
- How to make self-tapping sheet metal screws go into metal studs more easily
- How to remove screws from old decking
- Wood – How to remove sheet metal screws from the wrong side of a wooden board with minimal damage
- Remove Tight Decking Screws
- How to avoid stripping screw heads
- How to remove this stuck screw in the bathroom
- Wood – the best way to remove a broken screw from a deck board
Best Answer
If there's enough sticking out that you can grab on to, a pair of locking pliers would likely help turn it but it will be hard to fully unthread since there will come a point where the pliers don't have enough to grip on to. If you're lucky, you might get enough clearance to cut it or turn it from another part of the screw.
Another option is to simply drill it out and then tap new, slightly larger threads to use with a larger screw when re-installing.