This is a bit off topic from trains, but I need help!
I need to replace the “door sweep” on the bottom of our front door, but I’m having a heck of a time removing some of the screws. They are phillips, pan head wood screws, and I’m trying to avoid stripping the head. The ones on the outside of the door have been painted over, which doesn’t help. But I’m also having trouble with one on the inside that hasn’t been painted over.
Any suggestions?
Ray, I would use vise-grip pliers, grip onto the head in-line with the body of the screw. Works for me.
Correction – I just took another look at them, they’re not pan heads. They’re just kind of rounded.
Ray I usually have luck by putting a screwdriver in the screw head and tapping it a couple times with a hammer. Then use a knife to clean out the screw head and reinsert the screwdriver tap once again to seat the driver and turn the screw
You beat me too it…also if it’s a steel door you may try a little heat.
Thanks guys.
What I ended up doing was cutting straight slots with my dremel, then using a regular screwdriver. Worked good. Getting the new sweep to fit was a pain though. File this whole project under: “Why I Hate Home Repairs - Nothing Is Ever As Easy As It Should Be”.
Well, I was going to suggest an EZ-Out, but I see that the situation is OBE.
Glad you got it out, Ray.
Ray, your eventual method is the one I would have suggested myself had I been here in March. The Dremel is good for this, and if you have the rounded heads, so are those mini hacksaws - the ones made of bent steel rod holding blades about 6" long. I have a couple of them, one always equipped with a coarse blade, and one with a fine one. I couldn’t imagine life without these two little treasures in my toolbox.
Oh, and I avoid Phillips screws altogether.
No self-respecting Canadian will go near the blamed things. Robertsons all the way.
If you’ve never tried a Robertson screw, then you’re in for a real treat, believe me. You’ll see… If I were an American I’d think I’d be leading some kind of consumer revolt for a universal switch from Phillips to Robertson’s.
On an application like that door, where rust may add to future problems, for sure I’d use screws that won’t rust. An extra dollar now, 'way fewer headaches later.
And if there’s anybody in yr family who paints over screwheads… well, let the consequence fit the crime. Get THEM to remove the screws. No allowance 'til the job’s done.
One of the simplest methods I have found it to tighten the offending screw slightly. More often that not it then unscrews reasonably easy. No 100% but worth trying in the first instance. 
John,
I think you may find resistance to that kind of blanket change due to the manufactured (mobile) home industry having given the Robertson’s a bad rap. I do however agree with you whole heartedly, I keep them in stock when I can get them. The box stores here is the panhandle of FL are slowly getting them in on occasion.
Bob C.
Yeah, that’s good too Lawrence.
I used nothing but the “square drive” screws until the Torx came into play…Now I will use nothing other than the Torx. I really appreciate the torx screws when working on rusty cars!