[Al Thompson]

I just got a new (used) rifle and it has more than it's fair share of buggered screws. :( I "think" that the best way to fix them is to carefully file'em down and reblue. Am I on the right track?

Is the Novum cold blue any good? IIRC, there have been some good reports on that here.

TIA!

Al

[BigG]

Yes, filing them, paying attention to following curve of top will restore em. Don't know about the cold blue you mentioned.

[Mike Irwin]

If they're very buggered, and metal is raised, I'd suggest using a small hammer and punch to push the metal roughly back into place, and then recut the slot using a "window" file of the appropriate size.

Then polish with emery paper, and reblue.

I've done this any number of times with screws that have gotten damaged.

[Jim K]

This expands a bit on what Mike says.

If you can find a bit of copper sheet, make vise jaws out of it. Then clamp the screw in the vise (the copper keeps threads from being pinched in the vise) with the slot parallel to the opening. Using a small hammer and punch or just the hammer alone, tap the raised metal back toward the slot. You can often just about bring the slot back to its normal size this way alone.

For slot cutting, I take a fine hacksaw blade, and grind it thin, removing all the "set" from the blade so it cuts only on the bottom. These can be made as needed (I bought a couple of hundred cheap blades a while back) and of a width to suit the particular screw.

Using the modified hacksaw blade held in the hand, not in the frame, recut the slot.

Then chuck the screw in the drill press, leaving the screw head protruding, and set the drill press on a medium speed. Using a flat bastard file, and turning it to conform to the shape of the screw head, hold it against the head and reshape the head. Use the file also on the side of the head to trim off any burrs. With the head properly shaped, hold a fine emery cloth against it to polish it, and when satisfied, cold blue it or fire blue it by holding it in a flame or placing it on the element of an electric stove.
(Do this only for screws that don't require heat treatment.)

This technique, with a bit of practice, will restore all but the worst case screws.

The best way, though, if parts are available, is to simply order replacement screws.

Jim

[sm]

Agree and have done what Mike and Jim said, that copper is a real thread saver btw.

For itty bitty screws...visit an old M&P type watchmaker. Have him show you his "screwhead files" these come in various sizes and cuts. Being double sided, take one side and smooth ( remove ability to cut) This is good to shape up only. The other side is great for taking the depth down and keeping the cut parallel and square on bottom.

Instead of going through Borel, and paying shipping, just have the watchmaker order with his next order and give him something for shipping, and trouble. He can also get those real small anvils, vice with smooth sides...neat little tools that adapt to gun smithin' quite well.

[C.R.Sam]

Lot of crossover tween watchmaker and gunsmith.

Real watchmaker bout as easy to find as unicorns these days tho.

Sam

[sm]

No unicorns ?
http://www.julesborel.com/

edit: to show screwhead file with tang:
Horological Tools > Burnishers/Files> page 128

HTH

[Al Thompson]

Thanks all! Here's a link to what I posted about the rifle.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43445

[Mike Irwin]

I've never used copper sheets, just leather scrap in the vice.

[Sunray]

Shouldn't that be 'debuggering' screws? It may be easier, depending on the rifle to just replace them.

[Jim K]

Just a note on what re1973 said about files. A file with one or more sides smooth is called a "safeside" file. You can buy these from jewelry suppliers or from some well stocked hardware stores. I think Brownells carries some but have not checked.

Or you can make your own, simply by grinding smooth one side of a standard file. You will be surprised at how often these will come in handy and keep you from filing something you don't want to file.

Jim

[4 eyed six shooter]

Jim, Brownells does sell the screw slot files. I believe that they come in three widths, at least that is how many I have. They do a great job.
Good shooting, John K

[sm]

Mr. Kennan,
Thanks for mentioning that point, I failed to. Three cornered file, with one side smooth is real handy.

I used a Foredom Flexshaft , went slow with a flexible sandpaper disc. (7/8" snap on type) didn't want to remove temper. Once teeth gone, used polish emerystick,or polish emery on flat glass to alleviate being uneven then chamois with Fabulustere, or Simichrome to mirror steel. Granted some applications don't warrant polish and true, some stuff I did twas best to take the trouble.