How to Get an Eight-Prong Screw Out With a Four-Prong Screwdriver
- 1). Examine the screw’s head. Notice that Pozidriv screws have four large points, forming a “+” shape, and then four, much thinner points, which form an “x” shape. These two shapes share the same central point. Ensure that the pattern in the top of the screw hasn’t been worn away. It can be much more difficult to remove a screw if the grooves have been worn down.
- 2). Pick up your screwdriver. This should be a Phillips-head screwdriver, which has four points on the end. Notice that these also form a “+” shape, just like the four larger points on a Pozidriv screw. Try to find a Phillips-head screwdriver that is a suitable size for the screw you are trying to remove. In most cases, this won’t be an issue, but it won’t be possible to remove a large screw with a small screwdriver.
- 3). Put the screwdriver’s tip onto the screw so that the two “+” shapes match up by first orienting yourself around the screw so that the two thicker lines in the head are aligned horizontally and vertically, like a “+” sign would be. Line up your screwdriver tip in the same way, and push the tip of the screwdriver onto the center of the screw. You should notice the four points in the screwdriver sit in the matching points on the screw itself.
- 4). Turn the screwdriver to the left. Remember the simple rule: righty tight-y, lefty loose-y. Grip the screwdriver’s handle firmly and rotate it to the left, or in a counter-clockwise direction. If you feel some resistance initially, put a bit more force into rotating the screwdriver. Once the screw has begun turning, it should be easier to continue. Keep unscrewing the screw until it gets very easy.
- 5). Unless your screwdriver has a magnetized tip, it is better to finish removing the screw from the surface by hand. Grip the tip, turning it to the left if it still needs to be loosened slightly, and pull it out of the surface forcefully.
