Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Removing locktite from mounting screw holes

My screw holes are so gummed up with locktite that I cannot tighten down my mounts, what would be a good way to remove this gunk from the threads.
Thanks

Acetone on a needle and q-tips.

try Sitka's advice first. If it does not work for you, then take it to a professional gunsmith who will probably "chase the threads" which is risky on a blind hole. good luck with this! Mel

Thanks I'll go e it a try.

Chase the threads with a tap....if you mount your own scopes it is a tool you need and don't cost that much...6-48 is probably the size..

^^^^This^^^^ Works great if locktite is dry. If it gums up tap a bit use a fine small brass bristle brush to then clean tap etc. If they are indeed blind holes like front hole on a Remington 700 with barrel on it then you will need bottoming tap and make darn sure you start it straight/correct and don't cross thread. Usually best for me to make sure it is started correctly using fingers and not a huge clumsy t handle etc.

Begs the question, how did so much Loctite get in there in the first place? I've seen gomers shellacing the entire screw with the stuff in the mistaken belief that "if a little is good, more is better". Just one drop relative to the size of the screw is plenty. Equally important is having the mating screw surfaces chemically clean before installation.

It worked like a charm, thanks for the help.
I

Kind of a side note here, but maybe something you didn't know - certain grades of Loctite are oil resistant, meaning they work in situations (like engines) where removing all oil contamination isn't possible.

For this particular scope mount application, blue Loctite 242 is most commonly used, but it does require clean threads. If you switch to Loctite 243 (also blue), you get the same thread locking performance, but without the sensitivity to clean surfaces. You still don't want the holes dripping with oil, but really aggressive cleaning isn't necessary either.

Loc-Tite isn't necessary either
Degrease the holes and screws and they will hold just fine

I can verify from personal experience the above statement, on my own personal guns I seldom use Loc-Tite. On customer guns I will if requested use Loc-Tite, the blue removable type. Acetone is effective in removing Loc-Tite as well as chasing with a tap, since most holes are shallow a bottoming tap is the tool that I use. Start it with your fingers and then install the tap handle, if you encounter any resistance STOP and back the tap out of the hole. Forcing a tap practically ensures breaking it, go slow and easy you'll feel the bottom of the hole when you reach it.

Have never seen a need to use Loctite anywhere on a gun. Used the Purple low strength Loctite (believe it's designed for fasteners under 1/4") when assembling a crossbow about 5 or 6 years ago, it's still together and never had an issue....