t/c patch box removal

[chazz1975]

Hi guys, I am finally getting around to refinishing my T/C hawken, and have hit a snag. I cannot get the patch box off the stock. I am planning on stripping the finish off and going very dark, and also blackening the brass. I have all other parts to the rifle off and the screws out of the patchbox, but it will not come out of the stock. Any ideas on how to proceed?

 

[Lock Nut]

Try a paint can opener. You might need a small block of wood to raise it up inside an catch the inner lip of the plate. Work it around inside. It should pop right out.

 

[chazz1975]

OK, I have tried the paint can opener, but it seems like all it is doing is breaking off bits of wood underneath the patchbox. I am guessing these are really not meant to be removed?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Of course not meant to be removed but, I'm sure, not engineered to prevent removal. Just keep at it. Try running a pick point around the outside, the wood may have swelled and sorta gripped the brass. You can do it.

 

[Patocazador]

At least it should be loosened up by now. Here's a stupid sounding but possible solution. Get the largest suction cup that will fit in the base of the patch box, wet it, and pull straight up. It may be the only path of removal. Side to side sure ain't working.

 

[necchi]

It'll come out,
Do not be defeated by a TC patch box!!

 

[ohio ramrod]

The wood may have dried out and given you a "shrink fit" in which case pieces may split off. Try putting some ice on the brass to shrink the brass. :idunno:

 

[Lock Nut]

Not meant to be removed? Wow ! I've had and refinished several T/Cs in the past and never had trouble removing the patch box. The two screws are all that holds it in. You must simply got a tight fit from swelling. I can't imagine someone gluing it in. But I've seen stranger things done.:hmm:

 

[necchi]

I can't imagine someone gluing it in.

:shocked2:
No tellin what someone that "Knows what he's doing" might have done.
I was thinkin maybe someone slathered another coat of polyurethane over the top of everything,,
But glue wouldn't surprise me

 

[chazz1975]

Well, I got it. I remembered something my grandpappy used to tell me from his days on the assembly line "If it don't fit, git yerself a bigger hammer" :rotf: I really did not want to use a lot of force, but I wedged a long narrow shaft screwdriver under the hinge, got my rubber mallet, and one good "whack" popped that sucker off like a bottlecap. I had previously tried running a thin bladed gouge under the inner lip, and I noted some chunky white stuff coming out, probably some sort of glue...? I had also tried leveraging with a bicycle tire removal wedge, but that seemed too thick/wide. No damage to the inlet/mortice for the patchbox :thumbsup: I will be stripping the gawdy gloss finish off of it this week and will sand it down and go with a dark stain and tru-oil. Cleaned the brass, and now will spend a day darkening it. I tested the Birchwood Casey brass black on a piece of 30-30 brass, and it took 4 coats to get the dark color that I want for the brass. This should be a project that will take a week or two to finish. Thanks for the support and advice! Will post pics when its finished.

 

[Lock Nut]

Glad to hear you got it off without ruining the stock. :thumbsup: I was going to suggest using a gear puller with the arms turned around next. Good thing you didn't need to go to that extreme. :wink:

 

[chazz1975]

Me too, mainly because I have no idea what a gear puller even looks like or where to even get one. :grin: I tend to get a little impatient when seemingly simple things go a little awry. When I saw the wood chips come out when I ran the paint can opener and tire wedge around the inner lip, I had feared the stock underneath was rotting.