First problem with building Vincent "kit"

[bioprof]

Ran into a problem today with installing a wood screw to hold on the butt plate on my Ohio Vincent kit that I am assembling. Didn't have enough of the round headed wood screws, so found some plated ones at the local hardware store that had the same shape and single slot for a standard screwdriver. :hmm: I figured that I could grind off the plating and make them look like the old fashioned steel screws or replace them later with the correct one. Anyway, I twisted off the head of one of the screws when I was tightening it up. :curse: I figured that I could dig down far enough to grab it with a pair of visegrip pliers and unscrew the shaft. I guess I'll just have to get a longer screw once I get the broken one out. I discovered that the plated screws that I bought weren't made of steel but were plated brass. :curse: Oh well, live and learn I guess. At least it's in a place that won't show.

 

[IronCrickett]

Bioprof,
Welcome to rifle making... eace: When you install the new screws, coat them with either bar soap or beeswax. Should prevent a re-occurance of the problem. You can twist off iron or steel woodscrews just as easily if you don't coat them as above...
Also, if you haven't started digging the old screw out, you can get an easyout that fits at a hardware store or at Sears. Won't leave the gaping hole, or interfere with the location of your patchbox ( if you are going to use one ).

Later
I.C.

 

[Slowpoke]

Yeah, what IC said, I use car wax.

SP

 

[brushbuster]

pre drilling an under sized hole also helps prevent that problem,but i just rub a little candle wax on the threads for a little insurance :results: :m2c:

 

[bioprof]

I made a trip to the hardware store (the manager smiles now when he sees me come in - another sale : and bought a pair of fine pointed vice grips as there was enough of the screw to get ahold of. I managed to get it out, but didn't think there was enough wood left to hold another screw. Since it was under the top of the butt plate, I drilled out the hole with a 3/8" drill bit and glued a piece of dowling into the hole. Tomorrow I will drill a pilot hole and insert a steel screw covered with beeswax. It looks like it should take care of the problem. Thanks for the advice. I'm learnin. :master:

 

Hardware store screws are plated, and treated, making it hard to brown or blue. Send me a PM with sizes, and an address and I'l send you a couple unplated screws. Also if you are still shaping the Butt, use an undersize screw, as you'll be taking off and replacing the plate many times, and will oversize the hole. Bill

 

[CrackStock]

Good work on plugging and redrilling.

You need to counter sink your screw holes to the proper depth to prevent this from happening again. A pointed end does not really help in any way and a blunt end help stop at a repeatable depth.

Does anyone else grind off the points of the wood screws?

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[CrackStock]

Bill,

I am looking for a good stock of various unplated screws and have not found a good source. If you do not mind my asking, where do you come up with yours?

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[bioprof]

I ordered some today from TOTW.

 

[Terry Zboril]

Crackstock,
Suzie at Muzzleloader Builders Supply and Jack Garner at Tennessee Valley Manufacturing both have the unplated wood screws. Probably in the "links" section, or better yet subscribe to Muzzleloader Magazine, and/or Muzzle Blasts.
Lots of suppliers advertise in these Mags.
If all else fails, you can burn the coating off of the "modern" screws with a torch, and repolish and finish as you choose.
Regards,
Terry

 

[BLAHMAN]

Crackstock... a good souece of old screws is found at flee markets.Also, there are a lot of little ity-bity towns scatterd around Ohio and some of these places have the old hardware stores as I know them...not the cheap big box Home Disaters that have flooded our country. You'll find them there. You may find the same where you live.
I also pick them up from old doors when people remodel and put in new doors. The old ones sometimes get tossed on the front lawn waiting for the trash guys...guess what...those old hinges have honest to God steel screws in them. See if you can hook up with a handy man or small general contractor to see when they may be doing such a job. Good luck.

 

[Zonie]

If you decide to "burn off" the plating, and the plating is Cadmium (shiny silver color), do it OUTSIDE and stay upwind from it.
Cadmium vapor is very poisonous to people. :shocking:

 

[CrackStock]

Thanks for the suggestions sources for the unplated screws. I was hoping to buy a bunch at one time for a reasonable prices and never worry about it again. I would think that this would be expensive from MBS or Jack, but I will give it a shot.

CS