Vaquero screw removal - ideas??
I lucked into a deal the other day on a matched set of vaqueros. In the transaction, the seller mentioned that he had used loctite on all the grip frame screws, and there were a few he couldn't get out. All the screws were a little marred, but for the price, I couldn't pass it up. All of the screws came out with a little heat (a mix of blue and red loctite), and were replaced with new screws. -Except for two. Both are behind the trigger guard on the same gun. I've heated, Kroiled, oiled, frozen, and used every other trick I know to get screws out. The heads were in bad shape when I started, and I figure I've got one more try before they are too far gone and I have to drill them out and use a screw remover or drill the head off the screw.
So, before I'm forced to use a drill bit on the gun - something I really don't like to do - Does anyone have any other tricks to get these out??
Thanks
Apply heat directly to the heads of the screws by using a soldering iron.
If it is Loctite, even Red, this should break it down without doing any damage.
Make sure to use a real gunsmith's screwdriver bit to prevent further damaging the slots and to get a good "grip" on the screw.
Originally Posted By dfariswheel:
Apply heat directly to the heads of the screws by using a soldering iron.
If it is Loctite, even Red, this should break it down without doing any damage.
Make sure to use a real gunsmith's screwdriver bit to prevent further damaging the slots and to get a good "grip" on the screw.
I've already tried that
with the correct size screw driver. It dosen't even think about moving.
You may need to take it to a good gunsmith.
Chances are thats what the gunsmith will try before drilling out. Just try to center your punch as much as you can and when your happy with the location of your punch mark drill with a small bit making sure you are drilling straight down. Progressively go up in size of drill bits till you have just about hit the threads. At that point if the screw head isnt already off knock it off. Take a pick and try to pry out the remaining threads of the screw.
First take a drift (flat headed punch) and firmly smack the heads of the screws two or three times. Heat the pistol frame with a heat gun first before applying the soldering iron. There is way
to much steel there conducting the heat away for the iron to do any good. My heat gun runs over 850 degrees so it is usually all I use.
Try this tool. If it doesn't work, then break out the drill.
http://www.alberg30.org/maintenance/tools/impactwrench.html
left hand threads?
Not enough heating?
you need to get things around 500 F.
The frame can soak a lot of heat up before the screw gets hot enough.
Originally Posted By c133jim:
Try this tool. If it doesn't work, then break out the drill.
http://www.alberg30.org/maintenance/tools/impactwrench.html
This
Could try chucking your screwdriver bit in a drill press and use the quill for downpressure, turn the spindle by hand or wrench.