Screw Restoration

[CHUCKW]

How do you restore a buggered up screw head?

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[henry r]

i haven't tried it myself but i have seen footage of a gunsmith using a hammer to tap the displaced metal back into place, re-shaping the slot with a small file, then smoothing the head with a quick stroke of a file.

i think he oil blued it.

the most important bit was moving the metal back into place first.

[rcathey]

i haven't tried it myself but i have seen footage of a gunsmith using a hammer to tap the displaced metal back into place, re-shaping the slot with a small file, then smoothing the head with a quick stroke of a file.

i think he oil blued it.

the most important bit was moving the metal back into place first.

That would be Larry Potterfield from Midway. His videos are absolutely fantastic.
Here’s the one you mention:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FJchuIElrgI

[Flying10uk]

If it's only a small amount of damage, the careful use of an appropriately shaped needle file will often "clean up" a lightly damaged screw head and considerably improve it's appearance. Obviously, no file is not going to replace missing metal.

[CHUCKW]

Thanks for the info.

[henry r]

the video i was thinking was one of the "Anvil" series by c&rsenal on youtube. no idea which one though.

[Sunray]

"...needle file..." AKA Jeweller's files. They're fairly easy to find in any hardware store in sets. They're not stupid expensive either.
It does depend on what and how much damage though.

[Warren]

drill a hole in a piece of steel the size of the screw head. I use key stock
Turn out a punch or find one the same size as the hole in the bar of steel
Drill another hole slightly larger than the size of the screw shank in the centre of the first hole using number drills (one or two numbers larger)
Put the screw into the hole and using the punch swage the head back to size.
Once finished recut the slot with a hacksaw blade with the set cut off on a grindstone.
If a revolver the slot will be very thin but the blade will cut no matter how thin you grind it as long as it still has a few teeth left on it. Just grind the sides of the blade, NOT the top
Try it, you will be amazed.
Keep the steel bar and punch as you will be using it again over the years or doing jobs for others.
I have a piece of key stock that must have 30 plus holes in it from over the years.