My Fastener has an Unusual Head - How Do I Remove It?

You've come across a screw with an unusual head, probably one you haven't seen before. The chances are you have come across a security screw.

What are security screws?

Security screws are generally used to deter removal or to prevent theft. They are commonly found in public conveniences, schools, prisons and on cars, boats, on public transport and in electrical goods.

Before attempting to undo a security screw you should always bear in mind that it may have been used for safety purposes – perhaps to protect from electric currents or to safeguard small fragile components.

Security screws are simply a variation on our normal types of screws but with a tamper-proof head. They are also sometimes known as anti-theft screws. Whilst the body of the screw looks identical to a normal screw, the head has a pattern that cannot be undone with a slotted, Phillips or pozidrive screwdriver or bit.

Safety first!

If you do need to remove this type of fixing you should first ensure that it is completely safe to do so. If in doubt you should always err on the side of caution and leave it alone. Many safety screws are there to protect you from harm or to prevent irreparable damage being caused by inexperienced operatives, so give serious consideration to this before proceeding.

How to remove security screws

If you have decided that it is safe to remove the fastener, how do you go about it? Well, it goes without saying that you need the right tool!

Because there are so many variants of safety screws, we stock a handy security bit set covering all the common security heads plus other more standard bits – 61 bits in total. It is relatively inexpensive and is a great addition to your toolbox!

The image below details all the bits included within the set but if you need any further information please contact us.