or a screw extractor tool set. The method that works best for you will largely be determined by how deep the screw is lodged into the surface and the severity of the damage it has endured.

Enter a seasoned DIYer’s go-to tool: a screw extractor. While the specific design of this inexpensive implement varies, it most commonly takes the form of a tapered drill bit with a reversed thread.

Screw extractors use a set of left-handed drill bits — or a specialized screw extractor bit — to remove a stripped screw. To use one, first select a regular drill bit with a smaller diameter ...