Screw stuck, will not budge

[M_N04H]

It's been suggested to just leave it the hell alone. I'm tempted to just do that. The rail is functional.

 

[El_Guapo]

It's been suggested to just leave it the hell alone. I'm tempted to just do that. The rail is functional.

With my OCD.. I wouldnt be able to sleep at night leaving it in there.

 

[imacookie]

If the screw's got some clearance from the surface or if really dont care about the pic rail, you could dremel cut a flathead slot into the screw and use a flathead to back it out.
Got a picture of what you're trying to remove?

 

[M_N04H]

With my OCD.. I wouldnt be able to sleep at night leaving it in there.

Same

 

[lopez1171]

A pic might help but can the screw head be drilled enough to weaken it and remove the rail leaving enough screw for vice grips?

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

With my OCD.. I wouldnt be able to sleep at night leaving it in there.

I know, doesn’t matter if no else does, that will eat at you

 

[five.five-six]

Pretty sure it's not. It freely went in initially before tightening it.

That must be galling. (Pun intended)

 

[M_N04H]

That must be galling. (Pun intended)

That was my guess. Aka cold weld yes?

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

You sure you didn't tighten it 18 foot pounds instead of 18 inch?

 

[five.five-six]

Before you bugger the screw head up worse, just schedule an appointment with Randall at AR15Barrels.

Custom ground 2 of the 5/16” bits and broke them both + broke a Magnatip 340-5 on this one over the course of 3 weeks hitting with kroil 2X a day. Randal is a 2 hr trip each way but the work is impeccable and his prices are really fair and you get to watch a master at work. There is a reason Randal provides hotel recommendations. He has out of state customers. My screw is getting milled and drilled, it’s just kinda likes being there after 120 years.

 

[AR15barrels]

I have been removing broken screws from guns for 20+ years.
Most of the advice in this thread is comical in how bad it is.

The key to getting really truly stuck screws out is to remove the tension from the screw by removing the head and using heat to defeat loctite if present.
Once you get past those two steps, almost any screw comes out easily.

Most screws are not truly stuck but rather the drive socket is damaged so the screw can not removed easily.
It's possible to create a new drive socket in a screw head and unscrew most screws without even removing the head.
It only takes the proper tools and experience.
That's one reason why people come to me.

 

[five.five-six]

I have been removing broken screws from guns for 20+ years.
Most of the advice in this thread is comical in how bad it is.

The key to getting really truly stuck screws out is to remove the tension from the screw by removing the head and using heat to defeat loctite if present.
Once you get past those two steps, almost any screw comes out easily.

Most screws are not truly stuck but rather the drive socket is damaged so the screw can not removed easily.
It's possible to create a new drive socket in a screw head and unscrew most screws without even removing the head.
It only takes the proper tools and experience.
That's one reason why people come to me.

You’re such a people person

 

[M_N04H]

You’re such a people person

As long as he gets the job done

 

[Darqhelmet]

Dude, I’m the king of 5 minute projects taking hours, always some dumb happens. FML

Plumbing, every god damn time.

 

[five.five-six]

As long as he gets the job done

He’s not wrong at all, I’m just giving him a ribbing.

For instance, I drilled this one out. The head is still stuck in the mortise. I can’t get it out. I’m soaking the entire bottom metal in chielating rust remover trying to get it free. Now I have to slow rust blue it once I get that screw head out. The threaded stud still in the receiver, I unthreaded with my fingers.

 

[RustyIron]

The key to getting really truly stuck screws out is to remove the tension from the screw by removing the head and using heat to defeat loctite if present.

It's possible to create a new drive socket in a screw head and unscrew most screws without even removing the head.

I can understand if you don't want to reveal secrets that would cut into your bottom line. And I promise on scouts honor that I'm not going to open a shop to compete with you. But I'm always curious about techniques, and the only reason I can do what I do is from the lessons learned from experienced guys over the years.

What might you do to restore a screw head so you could get a screw out? Normally I work on things larger than guns, and I can manage the challenges. But last month I had a little 4-40 screw that was problematic. The only idea I had was cutting a slot with a Dremel tool. It's a crude solution, and #4 is about as small as I could go. For me, milling slots that small usually results in broken end mills and frustration.

What about heat? Heat gun or torch? Propane? Butane? Acetylene?

Thanks for any guidance. There might come a day when I'm sitting in the garage scraping my head and really need some new ideas.

 

[Darqhelmet]

 

[dgood]

Norske makes cnc milled Torx bits that are absolutely tight. Good luck

 

[MrWilly]

Sleepy's Custom Firearm Repair was able to get my sheered off screw out with a spade bit minutes after I dropped it off with them.

 

[five.five-six]

That stupid screw had this $99 RTI restoration stuck on my bench for 3 weeks!