Stripped screw

[PAC 762]

I'm so fed up that I'm about to cry!

I bought a fair condition Enfield No 4 Mk1 as a refurb project. After several problems with disassembly, I got to the rear trigger guard screw. It was severely stripped. After numeroud attempts to remove with screwdrivers, I let it soak overnight in liquid wrench and bought some damaged screw removers from sears.

Well, after 2 hours, I managed to drill out the head pretty good wiothout removing the screw. So I finally lost it and just started drilling the screw out. (I figured I'd just re-tap later)

Well, I managed to drill out one side but the drill bit broke off in the other and is stuck in there. The bit is broke flush, so I can't grab it, and it's too hard to drill.

Any suggestions??

 

[Dave Sample]

My name is Dave Sample and not Dave Berryhill but I have to say that I would find a gunsmith with a nice mill and have him Carbide out that screw and drill bit for you. Some things are just too hard to do at home. Good Luck. I just broke of an ejector front stud this morning and will be heading out to the Big Mill in Chino Valley tomorrow! I have done many of them right, but I did this one wrong so we have to pay the Piper for this Dance!

 

[effengee]

Drill it like a dentist goin' after a cavity!

Dave is right on this one...
Unless you got a drill press with carbide tipped drills, a specialized vise to safely hold your part to be drilled, and lot's of cutting tool lube...
Your best bet would be to take it to a competent gunsmith.
Best of luck...
Jimbo

 

[PAC 762]

Thanks for the advice, but I've already dropped too much money on this beater rifle. I'm just gonna keep drilling and hope for the best.

 

[Badger Arms]

I used to remove stuck screws for a living. Not just your standard weapon grade screws, but Aircraft Grade HiTorque screws often heat-treated in the engine section of F-15's I worked. For broken drill bits, a dental burr works best. Just grind the crap out of it. It's essentially a hand-held mill. It's not a job for the amature. Many a hole was buggered by inexperienced newbies we had to train. It's an acquired art. Take it to a gunsmith.

 

[JNewell]

It's an acquired art. Take it to a gunsmith.

Heh. You're right...take it to a machinist. Or at least make sure the 'smith owns the right tools...

 

[Jim K]

I assume you drilled into the head side of the screw. I would try from the other end. Use a center punch to mark the center of the screw, then use a center drill to start the hole. Work up in drill sizes until you get to the minor diameter of the threads, at which point you can just drive the screw out, leaving the threads in the receiver. These can be removed with a tap or with a dental pick. But this is a job for a drill press and someone who knows what he is doing.

An alternative is to grind out the screw with a dental burr in a Dremel tool, but I don't recommed that unless you have a lot of experience with a Dremel.

FWIW, it is surprising how handy dental tools are for gunsmiths; furthermore, none of my "patients" ever complained about the pain.

Jim

 

[PAC 762]

I appreciate all the input, but the rifle is probably worth $80 and I already put a lot more into it. I will sell it for parts before I take it to a smith. I'll try the dentist tools with my dremel (the bit broke at the non-head end... I drilled from both sides). If that doesn't work, I'm going to take it to my dad's. He has a drill press and I'm going to drill out the entire assembly and run an oversized nut & bolt through for reassembly. ... Not pretty, but neither was the rifle when I started.

 

[Dave Sample]

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't put his shoes on unless you are a Blacksmith" : Captain Eagle.

 

[effengee]

No, I understand where he's coming from...

I own a SMLE also,
Mine is worth less than $80.
I understand fully now where you are coming from.
As I stated before, you aren't restoring a museum replica, just a shooter...
Power to you, buddy...
The dental thing, drilling from the backside, the drill press, all good plans...
In this case, a steady hand just aint gonna cut it... pun intended