Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
unscrewing wood thread
Diz
>Just picked up an english marking guage with wood thumbscrew. The screw will only turn about a quarter turn - not enough to release the block. Any hints on freeing the threads or is it just brute strength and hope for the best?
Re: unscrewing wood thread
paul womack
>I'd leave it in a moderately dry and warm place for a while before useing force. 2-3 weeks.
I've bought many gauges, and they all work, even if stiff when bought. (*)
If you buy from yard sales etc. they may well have been in damp sheds or garages for a while.
BugBear
(*) I have a rosewood marking gauge drying gently as we speak. The block was immovable on the stem when bought. It now - just - moves, after 4 days in my lounge.
Re: unscrewing wood thread
Frank D. in Montreal
>If letting it sit doesn't work, and if you can't think of another fix, you can also try spraying the exposed parts of the thread with pledge or endust or one of those household furniture sprays. They contain silicone but I use them to get badly stuck blades and wedges out of my wooden planes with great success.
liquid paraffin
Dave Thompson
>Liquid paraffin, commonly sold for indoor oil lamps at drug store, hardware stores, etc., will dry to a thin paraffin wax coating. It should easily penetrate the threads, and lube it up well.
good luck,
Dave
Re: unscrewing wood thread
Diz
>Thanks all - I believe letting it dry will be the key. Of course we had 3" of rain last night. Need to bring it into house.
Re: liquids
paul womack
>I would be tremendously wary of introducing any liquid.
If the wood expands due to absorbing, it may lock even tighter, lubrication or no lubrication.
BugBear