Screw Removal Summary

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The assigned article for this week of the course is titled "Screw Removal". It is written by Dick Maheu, and originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of American Gunsmith magazine.

Mr. Maheu begins his article by stating that anyone in the gunsmith profession will always come across stuck screws. I imagine this to be a very common thing, as most civilians don't know how to properly care for their guns. As we learned early on in this program, the right tools for the job are a must. The author states that the majority of the problems are from people using insufficient tools. This of course will do more harm than good. A good screwdriver set is one of the first tool kits I acquired early on. There can be many factors that go into a screw being stuck. Some of the ones he mentions are: too much torque, no threading lube, and poor screw integrity. A simple fix to stripped screw holes is by simply applying Loctite or epoxy to the threads. One noted problem he states is regarding the Remington 740/742/7400 series rifles. He tells us that the screws to the …show more content…

Maheu gives some sound advice for the first part of working on the screws of a weapon. Again, you must use the proper made screwdriver for the job. Failure to do so can result in potential damage that the gunsmith could be liable for. When performing work on screw threading, you can use lubrication to aid in the job. The author also states that he uses files to assist as well, but urges caution (and patience). He advises to use tape around the screw as well, to prevent any potential damage. As far as heating the screw to be removed, Mr. Maheu states not to use propane, or a torch. This can damage the areas around the screw (weakening it). As a alternative, he prefers an electric solder. His method involves heating the center of the screw, in a downward motion. The heat will travel the threading of the screw, and thus, only affect the screw. the author even states he has had some success with the common hair

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