Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Blacktail Sniper on September 30, 2014, 03:17:08 PM

Title: Thread locker removal?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on September 30, 2014, 03:17:08 PM: Here is one I am struggling with. I have a rifle with rings & bases that I want to swap out. The rub is, it appears the base screws were attached with a thread locker of some type or possibly even some type adhesive.

I tried removing them, but there was just no give after what I felt should have been an adequate amout of force to break the screws free. My concern at this point is to not break one or more off in the receiver.

Was thinking rest the rifle upside down and drop some sort of agent into the bottom of the thread holes and hoping it will wick up and lossen whatever is holding the screws?

Any suguestions as to what I should try and use?

On the upside, if I can't get them free, I know the bases are solid....
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: huntandjeep on September 30, 2014, 03:23:44 PM: Try a little heat :tup:
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on September 30, 2014, 03:28:46 PM: I actually thought about that, but of all the things taken when my place was burglarized was a little pin-point sized butane torch.

:bash:

I don't have a heat gun and am afraid that my full size propane torch would be too much and damage the bluing.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: Rick on September 30, 2014, 04:05:43 PM: Got a soldering gun? Heat the screwhead that way.

I use blue Locktite all the time. Never had an issue breaking them free. Hopefully red wasn't used.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: mountainman on September 30, 2014, 09:51:29 PM: With a very tight screw driver, give a few sharp raps to the end of drive to try and spread the threads of the screws and break the bond.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: Hawgdawg on September 30, 2014, 10:03:42 PM: Be nice to the moderator's and don't break any rules. If the smoke clears they might open the thread up again, as long as everyone plays nice with each other. :bash:
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: wildweeds on September 30, 2014, 10:11:52 PM: Locktite is more of a "Feel good" than anything else, properly torqued fine threaded machine screws need nothing more than a drop of oil to lubricate the threads to achieve an accurate torque with less friction drag.Sounds like somebody got all Rambo and went with Red.I'd suggest that your on the right track with trying to melt the offending agent out with a solvent.Do a search for "Ed's Red bore cleaner" mix some up and apply a drop to the underside of each screw, the acetone component may very well eat it up. I use ed's red on everything,it's cheap and quite frankly to me it performs better than purchased bore cleaning solvents.Mountainmans advice will work,but to my way of thinking when it's all said and done the splayed threads will definately require a thread locker,as the hammering will loosen the fit of the threads.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: Seahawk12 on September 30, 2014, 10:48:12 PM: Just curious, Have you tried anything like wd40 and Tapping the screw driver?
If the heat and/or wd40 don't work then solvents might work.
LocTite is an acrylic-base adhesive so acetone should work. Though it will be hard to get the stuff to soak down before it evaporates. There is acetone in nail polish remover that is not as concentrated as using the stuff straight up I've also read that a product called Dry Ice will dissolve lock tite but have never tried it.
You may also try a hardware store for super glue solvent, but that's really just acetone, too.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: high country on October 16, 2014, 09:48:30 PM: if you suspect locktite.....HEAT IT. Bring it up to 400 degrees and it will release. locktite is used in several oil submerged applications. use a screw driver over the stove, soldering iron, torch......but get some heat on it.
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: jay.sharkbait on October 18, 2014, 05:44:33 PM: Heat

Soldering iron works great.

You can try tapping a high quality screwdriver as well.

Good luck
Title: Re: Thread locker removal?
Post by: wadu1 on October 18, 2014, 06:46:03 PM: Quote from: jay.sharkbait on October 18, 2014, 05:44:33 PM
Heat

Soldering iron works great.

You can try tapping a high quality screwdriver as well.

Good luck
I agree with sharkbait- heat - and a screwdriver that fits the screw tightly. I use a good quality gun-smithing set like B-Square etc. just not Kobalt/Craftsman or Harbor Freight.