Nipple wrench?

[Marplot]

I have some antique percussion shotguns and have damaged or badly plugged nipples. I see a lot of nipple wrenches for sale on Amazon. Some are for #11 or #12. Not sure what size I have on my guns. Is there a universal wrench?

 

[flconch53]

I have some antique percussion shotguns and have damaged or badly plugged nipples. I see a lot of nipple wrenches for sale on Amazon. Some are for #11 or #12. Not sure what size I have on my guns. Is there a universal wrench?

No. Get a set of assorted metric and english wrenches and try them until you get one that fits. There is all kind of ways to machine them out and I suspect you are about to see them but you didn't ask about them

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Whatever you end up buying, just make SURE its a good fit before you really torque down on it. If one size is too small and the other too big, take the small wrench or socket and enlarge it just enough, to the point where it has to be tapped (not hammered) down on the nipple. I would also try to find something of quality that has been tempered. This way the tools are less likely to bend, break, or distort. Seized nipples can be tough, but patience, most of the time, will prevail.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I use Ted Cash's nipple sockets with a Champan CM13 ratchet. These fit most nipples out there, and the sockets are available separately for individual modification, if you wish.

I have a combination gun that one of the nipples was stuck pretty badly. Several days of soaking with Kroil, a good fitting Cash nipple socket driven by this 1/4" hand impact worked well.

 

[Sam squanch]

You may need to make a custom one for your gun for a precise fit. Can we see pictures of your nipples……wait that sounds WRONG….. I had to make a wrench for a very strange euro nipple one time, be sure to soak the old nipple in something to free it up- and don’t rush the job- something will break!

 

[flconch53]

I use Ted Cash's nipple sockets with a Champan CM13 ratchet. These fit most nipples out there, and the sockets are available separately for individual modification, if you wish.

View attachment 268320
I have a combination gun that one of the nipples was stuck pretty badly. Several days of soaking with Kroil, a good fitting Cash nipple socket driven by this 1/4" hand impact worked well.
View attachment 268321

I like the looks of the nipple sockets.

 

[Marplot]

where can i find the nipple sockets? Here are picture of nipples.

The gun shows ELG* in an oval (Proof Mark). Would this be metric? Belgian? I think the 184 is a serial number. Don't have a clue about the "40"

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

There’s a good chance they would be a standard 1/4-28 nipple. No way of knowing for sure just yet. I have a J.D. Dougall double built in Glasgow, and it takes standard 1/4-28’s.

https://www.tdcmfg.com/product-page/ratcheting-nipple-wrench
Use the drop-down to select which combination or single attachment you’d like.

 

[Sam squanch]

That could be ANY strange threading….

 

[Sam squanch]

Use kroil. Or soak in plain water, that worked for me once. Tap with a mallet once in a while, if not loaded- heat up the breech a round the nipple and let cool. Repeat for at least a week. Don’t rush things!

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I love my Ted Cash racket bits. you use a standard 1/4 inch racket.

 

[Tim_IA]

Use kroil. Or soak in plain water, that worked for me once. Tap with a mallet once in a while, if not loaded- heat up the breech a round the nipple and let cool. Repeat for at least a week. Don’t rush things!

"Don't rush things" spot on!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes, use some form of penetrating solution such as Kroil or the 50/50 mix of acetone and Automatic Transmission fluid.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/stuck-nipple.167955/#post-2411076
The impact tool gives a bit of vibration along with turning torque and is a good device.

Make sure the gun is unloaded!

 

[Old Hawkeye]

I love my Ted Cash racket bits. you use a standard 1/4 inch racket.

What's a "racket"?

 

[EC121]

Look for a set of ignition wrenches. They have all sorts of smaller sizes in them plus a right angle end.

 

[Rifleman1776]

use some form of penetrating solution such as Kroil or the 50/50 mix of acetone and Automatic Transmission fluid.

Best advice yet. IMHO, you probably do not need a good wrench to remove those old nipples. They will probably be unusable anyway. You will need to find (or have made) new ones for replacement that accept currently made caps.

 

[Grenadier1758]

What's a "racket"?

I suspect @Johnny Tremain meant ratchet.

 

[ZUG]

Those nipples look like they have been in there for a LONG time. You need to soak the barrel breach in some good penetrating solution such as Kroil, CRC or the 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid for a week or more. Get the Ted Cash's nipple sockets with a Chapman CM13 ratchet! After a week's worth of soaking place one of the Cash sockets that fit the best and give the socket a few LIGHT raps with a SMALL ball peen hammer to set up vibrations into the nipple to try to break up some of the rust. Then try to remove the nipple by working it back and forth a little at a time. You may need to go back to the soak for a longer time - be patient - time is your friend. After a month you MIGHT have success if not take it to a GOOD gunsmith that specializes in BP gun repair. Good Luck ---

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Belgian?

100%

 

[SDSmlf]

Once you have let everything soak, inside and out, with your preferred ‘penetrating oil’ for a week or so, and have located a proper fitting wrench/socket, a ‘cordless drill driver’ (I use a DeWalt) can be your friend.

The adjustable torque setting on most will work like poor man’s impact wrench for smaller fasteners. Put the drill on lowest torque setting, and let it hammer away for a bit as the drill’s clutch repeatedly catches and releases. Then increase to the next higher torque setting and repeat. Keep increasing the torque setting until the fastener’s threads release. At least this method has worked for me.