Busted Phillips Screws

First...Try using a phillips head slightly larger than normal for that size screw. Not too larage. The tip of the phillips head must still fit in what remains of the screw hole.

Second thing if that does not work.......Can you get hold of the sides of the screw head with a pair of pliers? If so, use a pair of locking pliers (vise-grips, etc); lock the pliers tightly around the screw head; and twist the pliers (and the screws) off. Needle nose vise-grips for tight places best.

A tool called screw extractor was designed for people in exactly your situation.

Inserting it into the busted Phillips and applying unscrew action will back it out. Available from large hardware and automotive stores.

Take along one of the good screws for size comparison.

Sears has been advertising the "Screw Out" (no kidding!) with Bob Villa up here in Canada on TV-seems like just the job for it!

Both good thoughts, will probably try them both and dump the drill idea...One of my handyman friends called , his suggestion was to take a phillips screw driver of exactly the same size , insert it into the hole and tap lightly to try and indent a new phillips insert into the existing screws. Sounds like a good idea, however I know when I first tried to take the screws out with a normal screw driver , they did seem to be pretty firmly in place, so not wanting to kill myself getting them out, I really did not try too hard, because I knew my neighbor had a power screw driver. You live......You learn....will try all three suggestions if necessary. Amazing how you miss coming home from work and playing music, even if its only for a few minutes. thanks.