Get something small and sharp, like a dental pick, and you can pick it out of the whip. Too add a new screen takes a little practice. I get regular brass (?) screens and cut them smaller to fit into the whip. Seems to work much better than the expensive screens that come with the VP. The first few times took me at least half and hour to switch screens. Now I can do it withen mins. and do not take the plastic off the end at all. Practice, practice practice. I love my vapor brothers!