Frozen screw

[Firehand]

Problem is a forend-mounting screw, this thing is REALLY stuck. Can't soak a penetrating oil in, it'll damage the wood. At this point, I can think of three possibles:
1. Impact driver, use a lot of light taps to break it free.
2. Drill a centered hole & use a broken screw extractor.
3. Most drastic, carefully split the forend, then can use padded-jaw vise- grips to do it. I do NOT want to use this option.

Does anyone know of another way?

 

[Wildalaska]

Um...how about take it to your local gunsmith

WildeasyanswerAlaska

 

[stans]

Make it somebody else's problem!

 

[Firehand]

I do not want to just hand it off to someone else. The rest is disassembled and cleaned or in the process, just need to get this last screw out so can clean the forend and start cleaning/polishing the barrel.

 

[Dave Sample]

Smack it hard!

 

[Jim K]

What kind of gun is it? Does the screw have a ferrule? Is the slot battered up? Such things make a difference in suggesting a course of action.

One thing you can consider. If you have a drill press, and you can get the foreend on the drill press table (suitably padded), take a short screwdriver blade, like those in the screwdriver kits, and chuck it in the drill press.

Then bring the blade down on the screw, turning the chuck to match the screwdriver to the slot. Keep pressure on the drill press with one and and turn the chuck with the other, "bumping" it back and forth. (DON'T turn on the power!) You may need help to hold the part, but usually you can use the drill press vise.

This will put on more torque than you can apply with a hand screwdriver, but could twist off the screw, so you are taking a chance.

Jim

 

[skip]

It might not be such a bad thing if you break the screw. That should allow the forend to slide off over the remaining stub which can then be attacked with penetrating oil, vice grips and all the rest. Downside is replacing the screw, which would probably be a good idea anyway - if it's rusted/pitted enough to stick this tight, it'll only be a matter of time before it does the same thing again.

 

[mete]

Impact might work. Also try heat ,if you have a big old fashioned soldering iron or something similar ,get that hot and hold it against the screw. Be patient , you might try alternating impact and heat.

 

[Firehand]

Problem cleared.

But not in a good way. Went ahead & tried soaking a few drops of oil around the head, then set it in a vise and put a fair amount of tension on the screw.

And the forend split.

And, sure as hell, after it split the screw turned right out.

It's a BSA Martini .22

 

[jdomin]

do the drill press

it works