Best approach for cutting many stainless steel screws

[raasken]

I'm planning to replace the decking in our sunroom but keep the underlying joists. I've realized that the previous owner of the house skimped on good screws, so almost every screw head is breaking off. My plan is to cut the decking on both sides of the joists with a circular saw, but I'm not sure how to best remove the screws. What is the best way to cut/remove a number of stainless steel screws that are lined up without damaging the joist? Reciprocating saw? Angle grinder? The sunroom is 4x6 meters, so there are about 10 rows with about 50 screws in each = tough job.

 

[Steppen]

are the studs in joist hangers or similar? can you simply turn them? and let the screws remain on the underside

 

[largab]

Planning to replace the decking in our sunroom while keeping the underlying joists. I've realized that the previous owner skimped on good screws, so many of the screw heads break off. My plan is to cut the decking on both sides of the joists with a circular saw, but I'm not sure how to best remove the screws. What's the best way to cut/remove a large number of stainless screws that are lined up without damaging the joists? Reciprocating saw? Angle grinder? The sunroom is 4x6 meters so it's about 10 rows with about 50 screws each = tedious

I would unscrew what can be unscrewed, then try to lift off the decking with a crowbar. Finally, cut off the protruding parts with an angle grinder.

 

[Martin Berggren]

 

[raasken]

are the joists in joist hangers or similar? can you simply turn them? and let the screws stay on the underside

Smart! I haven't gotten that far yet, so I don't know. But if that's the case, I'll go with it. Thanks!

 

[raasken]

[bild]

Help me. What kind of tool beast is this?

 

[Dan_Johansson]

If it's stainless screws, I would guess that a bolt cutter would make the job easy...

 

[raasken]

If they are stainless steel screws, I would guess that a heavy-duty cutter would do the job easily...

Ok! And then knock down the rest that remains?

 

[Dan_Johansson]

Cut as close as possible, then a light massage will probably be enough to keep them from sticking up.

If you want to remove them completely, you can use a welding pliers, but it takes time to unscrew them one by one by hand...

 

[mexitegel]

[bild]

Interesting gadget. I read a bit about it, but are there blades available for it that can handle stainless steel?

 

[Dan_Johansson]

Interesting contraption. Read a bit about it but are there blades for it that can handle RF?

I would probably say you'll have a hard time finding a blade that DOESN'T handle stainless steel, as long as we're talking about decking screws...

I tried placing a 4.2 mm "a2" screw in the vise and sawed it off. 3.23 mm thick, it took exactly 7 strokes with the hacksaw before it broke...

 

[mexitegel]

What caught my attention was that the blade only specified soft metals (iron, brass, etc).

Anyway, I believe more in using an angle grinder or just hitting it with a hammer.

 

[JLov]

I would have unscrewed what can be, then tried to lift off the decking with a crowbar. Finally, taken off the protruding with an angle grinder.

If they stick out, it usually works well to clamp them directly in the chuck and unscrew them.

 

[Johan Matsson]

It is usually surprisingly easy to pull them out with a screwdriver if they are exposed. Just attach the chuck around what is left of the screw and unscrew. Probably not as quick as cutting off with an angle grinder, but you get rid of the screw entirely.

 

[plåtrickard]

Ordinary honest farrier's tongs are an underrated tool....