How to Saw Through a Screw | UK Guide | 2023

May 2, 2021

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If you regularly undertake DIY projects at home, there will be times when encounter a screw that needs cutting. Sometimes, screw heads become so damaged and warped that they can not be removed by conventional means. Other times, the screw may be so bent that it can not be rotated with a manual or power screwdriver. Thankfully, screws are relatively easy to cut through.

Using a Hand Saw

Using a manual form of hand saw, such as a hacksaw, can be an effective way to cut through a screw. Hacksaws are particularly good at slicing through screw material as they include a high number of fine teeth that are well suited to cutting through metal. To use a hacksaw to cut through a screw, simply trace the teeth of the blade lightly over the screw to form a guideline, then begin moving the saw forwards and backwards with more force. It should only take you a few strokes to cut through a thinner screw, although thicker screw diameters will require a little more elbow grease.

Using a Power Saw

If you want to minimise the amount of effort required to cut through a screw, you can also use a power saw. A jigsaw is a particularly good option for slicing through problematic screws. Although the blades attached to a jigsaw are usually fairly thin, you can find many jigsaw blades designed for metal-cutting applications.

Once you have installed one of these blades into your jigsaw body, simply move the blade across the diameter of the screw to slice through it. The only drawback of using a jigsaw is that such tools are only really suitable when used on flat surfaces. If the screw you are looking to cut is stuck in a vertical surface or in an awkward position, a jigsaw may not be the ideal tool to remove it.

Alternatively, you can use a reciprocating saw to cut through screws. Because reciprocating saws are more compact and can be used to tackle awkwardly positioned screws, they are one of the most efficient ways to get rid of damaged screws, nails and fasteners. They also require very little manual effort to perform sawing motions, making them a good choice if you need to cut through a significant amount of screws.