how do I remove paint from hinge screws?

Msfrmtx

I recently purchased a home that was "professionally" painted over 7 years ago. All of the door hinges were sprayed as they painted. The screws are coated with paint so I cant get the bit in there. How do I remove the paint from top of screws so that I can remove the hinges? I have over a dozen doors with this problem. Any tips you have for the most efficient methods would be great appreciated.

thanks!

Gymschu

It would be nice if you could remove them......then you can soak them in HOT water and the paint just falls off. Maybe take a screwdriver, put it in the screw slots, and pound them with the hammer just to get some bite so you can take them out. You don't even have to take them all the way out.......you could use some goof off or oops to remove the paint. However, in the end it may be just as easy to remove the screws and replace them with new. Just a thought.

mustangmike3789

xylene is great fo removing paint, it is also great for removing the skin from your hands and brain cells from your head. try the goof off or a citrus type paint stripper before trying any toxic solvents.

Jackofall1

Hello and Welcome Msfrmtx, to the best darn DIY'r site on the web.

As suggested insert screw driver in the apparent slot, tap the driver to seat in screw head and then remove, I would be looking at replacing the screws as opposed to trying to remove years of paint build up.

Mark

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Brushjockey

If you do get them off, throw them in a coffee can ( metal) with some stripper for a couple of hours, put on rubber gloves and use an old toothbrush to clean off. Wipe and wash clean.
Even screws are pretty easy this way.

DangerMouse

I use a sharpened nutpick, it digs the paint right out easily.

DM

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Ed G

I just went through the same situation and just replaced them with new screws. I figured for the $4 the box cost, I wasn't going to try cleaning them.

DangerMouse

If they were that old and ugly replace them, yup. But the problem was removing the screws with all the hardened paint in them.
I recycle everything, including used screws, so I'd dig the paint out. *grin*

DM

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Msfrmtx

thanks for the suggestions. I am willing to recyle if they are in decent shpe...but my primary need is to get enough paint off so I can unscrew them and remove the doors from the hinges.

I plan to recyle the hinges once I get the paint off. I.m just aggrevated by the laziness and the amount of extra work they created.

I cd always paint over them again with trim color and call it a day but I really want to take the doors down to paint them.

jsheridan

Can I ask, why are you removing the hinges to take the doors off to paint? Why don't you just pop the pins out? The first time I took hinges off a door was the last time I took hinges off a door. There were shims behind the hinges, some of the thread holes were compromised and, though it went back up, it was a nightmare and it was never as it was. I had to remove the door and one of the pins was frozen, so I thought just remove it from the hinges, yeah.

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debbiekellaway

I want to use my current hardware on the cabinet doors after I re-paint them. I cannot unscrew the screws to remove the hardware due to too much paint on all the metal parts. If I can get them off the doors, I can soak off the paint from the screws, the metal plates, and the hinges.

DannyT

a razor knife works great on regular slotted screws and can also work on phillips screws

notmrjohn

Slotted screws; use a thin bladed screw driver to scrape the paint out, proper size tapped a few times to seat it then lean into it to remove screws. Philips; # 1 tapped a few times on paint then #2 tapped a few times and lean into that. You might need to cut thru the paint around the hinges with a utility knife ,which, with a nod to Danny, you can also use on the screws heads , before you take them out they mite be "glued" in and the paint can chip if you just yank them off. Some paint removers and boiling water can oxidize some metals and remove plating so be carefull.
Tool people see your problem as an excuse to buy a Dremel tool with wire wheels, brushes and maybe even some cut off wheels.

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debbiekellaway

I am not experienced, and when you say "stripper" I do not know what to look for at Home Depot. Thanks!

DangerMouse

Ask for "paint stripper" Strypeze is a good brand.

DM

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