Gunsmithing: 5 Ways To Remove Frozen Screws
BY PGF
1 year, 8 months ago
Details about each method at the source. I would never have thought of welding a rod to the top of the screw so you could get a good grip to remove it. I’m sure readers have plenty of experience with stuck screws.
- Use a torch
- Use penetrating oil
- Re-cut the screw slot
- Drill the screw
- Welding
If you work on firearms long enough, you will run into screws that refuse to budge. With the correct screwdriver and the proper force, a screw should move. If it doesn’t, stop. Go through this checklist: Is the screw a properly fitting screw? When was the last time this screw was moved? Has Loctite been applied? If you don’t know, is it a screw that is likely to be locked in place? (The most common places you will run into screws locking in place will be on scope mounts. People who don’t know how to properly tighten a screw will use Loctite when it’s not needed.)
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On March 9, 2023 at 11:41 pm, Latigo Morgan said:
One of the things I’ve run into while working on old motorcycles is screws corroded to aluminum. After twisting the heads off a few with a screwdriver and brute force, I found that a hammer impact driver will loosen the screws without taking the heads off. I’m sure I could adapt my impact to the appropriate sized screwdriver bit if I needed it for a firearm.
On March 10, 2023 at 8:54 am, Name (required) said:
Those hammered impact drivers are an absolute necessity for motorcycles.
If you must use loctite, use the purple stuff. It’ll keep out oxygen, prevent corrosion, and breaks loose easily.
On March 10, 2023 at 11:10 am, Oldbev said:
To go along with first comment. Put turning pressure on good fitting screwdriver and sharply rap head of screwdriver with a small hammer.
On March 10, 2023 at 11:23 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Oldbev,
Good tip. Thanks for that.
On March 10, 2023 at 11:24 am, Bryce said:
A 50/50 blend of acetone and automatic transmission fluid works far better than anything I’ve ever tried on stuck bolts.
Not sure what it may do to a firearms finish but it works great on farm/construction equipment.
On March 10, 2023 at 1:43 pm, MTHead said:
Oldbev and Herschel, That’s also how a gunsmith friend taught me to tighten gun-screws before lok-tight was widely used. Prefect fitting screwdriver being the biggest part of the equation.
And Bryce is spot on with his formula. I’ve used, and seen tests that prove it’s the best.
On March 10, 2023 at 7:21 pm, Sarthurk said:
I restored a 1973 Honda CB200 in in 2003 that had 4K miles on it, and had been left in a garage, gas oil and all. It had real bad fuel tank rust on the bottom, due to petrol’s affinity to H2O, and when I went to take the petcock off, one of the two bolts attaching it to the tank would not come loose. I broke the bolt head off. Oh crap. Off to the store for an appropriately sized removal bit. And of course, the bit broke. So,I opted to drill completely through the middle of the offending broke off bolt, and used a round jewelers file to file down the bolt from the inside of the hole. I filed through it until I reached the lands of the female part of the tank hole (you can make jokes all you want). Then I was able to use a pick to remove the metal left in the grooves. Problem solved. It took some patience.