The stripped screw is the most humbling thing in any toolbox. There I was, trying to unscrew a cabinet hinge, and the head was so worn that my driver just spun in place. I was ready to drill the whole thing out when my dad called and told me to grab a rubber band.

The rubber band trick is one of those fixes that sounds fake until you try it.

How It Works

Lay a wide rubber band flat over the screw head, press your screwdriver into it, and turn slowly. The rubber fills the worn grooves and gives the driver something to bite into. It is not magic, it is friction.

Use a rubber band thick enough to cover the whole head. A thin one will tear. I have used this on furniture, laptops, and even a stubborn bathroom fixture.

When the Rubber Band Is Not Enough

If the screw is really chewed up, move up the ladder:

1. Try a larger screwdriver bit and push down hard while turning
2. Tap the driver with a hammer a few times to seat it deeper
3. Use a screw extractor set, which bites into the head and twists it out
4. As a last resort, cut a slot in the head with a rotary tool and use a flathead

I keep a cheap screw extractor set in my drawer now. It has rescued three screws in the past year.

Prevent It Next Time

Stripped screws mostly happen from using the wrong size bit or pushing too hard at an angle. Match the bit to the screw, keep it straight, and replace any bit that is already rounded.

And if a screw feels tight, back it out half a turn and re-tighten rather than forcing it. That little habit saves a lot of rubber bands.