A screw extractor is a tool for removing broken or seized screws. There are two types: one has a spiral flute structure, commonly called an easy out after the trademarked name EZ-Out, and the other has a straight flute structure. Screw extractors are intentionally made of hard, brittle steel, and can break off inside the screw being removed if too much torque is applied.
Facts
OriginThe common spiral-fluted screw extractor is widely called an easy out, after the trademarked name EZ-Out; a straight-fluted type is also made and is driven in with a hammer and turned with a special nut rather than threaded in directly. Extractors are deliberately made of hard, brittle steel so they bite into a stuck screw, which also means they can snap off inside it if too much torque is applied. 1 Open Questions
Introduced When (Circa)not dated in source consulted
The Wikipedia Screw extractor article gives no invention date or year for either the spiral or straight fluted type, and does not date the EZ-Out trademark; no date found in the source consulted. Sources
1. Screw Extractor (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLede and Types sectionQuote, Lede and Types section
There are two types: one has a spiral flute structure, commonly called an easy out after the trademarked name EZ-Out; the other has a straight flute structure.
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