Seized screw

juco · Post by **juco** » Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:43 pm

I have a seized screw on this small woodworking plane.
What would best way to try and unseize it.
I have at hand wd40, oil,blow torch.

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dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:57 pm

Heat will probably do it but you have to be careful it does not affect the steel. Firstly, try soaking in WD40 and tap the screwdriver hard before trying to turn. Make sure you use a well fitting screwdriver blade.

DWD

juco · Post by **juco** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:30 am

Thanks for reply, I will give that a try.

toolbox · Post by **toolbox** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:45 am

If possible fix in a vice before doing above, tapping the screwdriver top while turning too will help.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:25 am

i would think hair dryer level off heat maybe a little more, perhaps hot oven as direct heat can discolour but only a guess
and remember direct flame would need time for the dw40 to evaporate

maybe even heat the back first so any discolouration is there :dunno:

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:30 am

Aren't those plane bodies cast which means a bit of care should be taken if heated. One thing I would add which often seems to help is to try and tighten the screw first.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:46 am

Yes, castings can crack on cooling if you spot heat in an area. Heat is good on seized fixings, I had a seized 3/4" pin on my tractor (when I had it) and my small blowlamp just could not heat it enough. My pal had a big bottle gas blow torch and when applied to the pin it went cherry red quite quickly and the pin drifted out easily. Applying heat has to be carefully thought through to get the best results.

DWD

toolbox · Post by **toolbox** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 12:24 pm

Is it out yet,

just dying to know!

juco · Post by **juco** » Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:15 pm

toolbox wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 12:24 pm Is it out yet, just dying to know!

Not yet, soaking in wd40, bit of a delay as managed to catch my finger on a small chainsaw, x-rayed and fortunately it never caught the bone so leaving diy for a week or so.

toolbox · Post by **toolbox** » Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:04 pm

Ouch!