Removing "frozen" revolver nipples

[gjkershul]

Sometime ago I was given an old replica 1858 Remington New Model Army .44 cylinder. It sat on my desk as paper weight until I happened to have my Pietta 1858 on the desk for some reason. I tried the paper weight cylinder in the the 1858 and it fit! In fact it shoots better than the original cylinder. It takes # 10 caps.

However, the nipples are "frozen" from corrosion and cannot be removed with a nipple wrench. This is not some thing I want to live with.

So far I have tried soaking the cylinder in break-free(4 days), soaking in penetrating oil (4 days),and applying propane torch heat . So far nothing has worked to loosen the nipples.

Plan D in the absence of any good advice from the list is to drill out the nipple holes and try a broken screw exractor.

Thank you for your observations and advice on getting the nipples out.

 

[Ratdog68]

M'be some "Kroil" penetrating oil... some heat... and a drift/mallet taps to shock the corrosion loose on those threads? Don't know for sure whether propane flame is hot enough to get 'er done.

 

[nalioth]

Propane is hot enough.

Get too hot, and the whole cylinder gets 'done'.

 

[jim147]

The propane is hot enough but not pinpoint enough.
You need a small tip torch. Get the nipple only just red. Then hit it with the penetrating oil. It will shrink the nipple slightly.

jim

 

[MikeJackmin]

If you're not in a hurry, soak it in kroil for a month or two. I did that once with a rusty pocket knife, it took off a lot more rust after a month than it did after just a few days.

 

[mykeal]

Buy a new cylinder for about $40.
VTI Gun Parts (Pietta 1858 Remington NMA)

 

[Ratdog68]

Buy a new cylinder for about $40.
VTI Gun Parts (Pietta 1858 Remington NMA)

Hmmm... looks to me like the new cylinder is $85... the nipple set with wrench looks to be closer to the $40 price... "?"

 

[alemonkey]

I had to do one the other day, just drilled it out and used a broken screw extractor. Took 5 minutes and maybe $10 for an el cheapo extractor set from Harbor Freight.

 

[mykeal]

Yep. You're right. Getting late, not seeing the screen clearly...sorry.

 

[Snaggletooth]

I took an impact socket that would fit around the nipple, Icut slots on the sides that fit the sholders opn the nipple. Put the cylinder in the vice, after wrapping it in leather, and used a small breaker bar to turn the socket. Worked for me

 

[Pancho]

I offered a few months ago a simple formula for a superior penetrating oil. Since then I've had occasion to use it twice and I'm a believer. It is simply a 50/50 mixture of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. Only one provision, it is flammable and don't mix up more than you need.

 

[nalioth]

I offered a few months ago a simple formula for a superior penetrating oil. Since then I've had occasion to use it twice and I'm a believer. It is simply a 50/50 mixture of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. Only one provision, it is flammable and don't mix up more than you need.

. . . and keep a lid on it as the acetone will evaporate.

 

[Ginormous]

$40 replacement cylinder is here.

 

[sharps59]

I would still do the screw extractor method. get new nipples from blumquest and have a spare cyl. don't forget you may need to time the new cyl. and hone it out to be larger than your barrel dia. and while at it you might as well do a 17 deg. forceing cone and trigger job it not already done.

 

[Shinbone]

Can someone point me to the correct nipple wrench for this same pistol?
Just picking up things I need.
Thanks.

 

[arcticap]

It's hardened, works great, is economically priced & has low shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nipple-wrench-R...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[Oldfalguy]

Well I just had to accomplish this task, albeit on an original 1858.
I used one of the little ratchet nipple wrenches from Dixie.
Worked well on 4 of them but the soft metal bent on the other 2.
So using a combination of soaking in Carbon Cutter and Evaporust tried for
the stubborn ones again- Fail but it might have helped in some manner.
Next, not having any Kroil, I used Liquid Wrench penetrating oil.
Soaked it for a 2 days and lo and behold the five came out.
Within another day the last one came both by using needle nose as the
wrench having become hors d'combat.
All the soaking managed to remove the slight brown patina from the cylinder/nipples and I need to restore that light rust look-
Suggestions from this grand oracle are welcome.

 

[junior geezer]

when i first purchased my rep 1860 army, it came with one frozen nipple. i used an EZ OUT
to remove it; then purchased 6 new uncle mike's stainless nipples.

 

[Sagetown]

Plan D in the absence of any good advice from the list is to drill out the nipple holes and try a broken screw exractor.

gjkershul; Since the other methods failed to remove those nipples, go with Plan D. Have fun!

 

[BHP FAN]

For restoring the patina try marinara sauce,or pizza sauce.Coat lightly,let set overnight,wash with WD40.Looks 150 years old.