Can someone show me the link to the post on removing stuck screws. I know I read somewher a while back about mixing something that will attack the metal screw but leave the brass alone but I can't find it.

I have two Illinois that bothe have stuck screws holding down a broken micro regulator spring. I have been soaking them in Silly Kroil for over a week and they still will not budge.

Thanks,
Harry

Harry, here are a couple links to using alum:

link1

link2

Bob

Bob thanks a million. The first link is the one I read. You know you read something just to learn something even though you don't need to use it, then months later when you do need to use the information you can't remember it and you can't find it.

Getting old *****!

Thanks again,
Bob

This is the first I've seen about using alum. I'll certainly tuck this away for future reference.
Thanks guys.

Harry, in your particular situation, I would address two other options first;

1. The Near Glass-Hard steel of the spring is pierced where the stuck screw is holding it down. It may just "split off" at the screw by applying some leverage to the broken spring with a small needle nose with the tips near the screw hole. Then you should be able to remove the screw by loosening it back and forth until it unscrews.

2. If that does not work the screw will punch out with a small driver. Some staking sets go that small, and then you could make one with a broken drill. After punching out the screw, the hole will often still hold another screw adequately to hold down the replacement regulator spring.

Thank you David I like the breaking the spring idea. I will try that first. I don't know if I have a punch that small or experience to try the punch idea.
Thanks.

David my friend your a genius! I hope you read this your plan of bending the broken spring until it broke worked like a charm. I decided to try your suggestion after a trip to the store came up empty on the alum.

Thank you!

I found out about a decade ago about the alum, but I had never used it till a couple years ago.

I had a gold filled crown with a stem broke off at thread level. After about a week in the alum, the broke stem completely "P-O-O-F-E-D" itself and dissolved away with no damage to the threaded crowns threads nor anything else

It almost defies the imagination that it works because it certainly isn't logical

Also for anyone interested, the only place I found the alum was at the local grocery store in the alphabetically listed "spice" rack section aisle

regards,
bb

The largest grocery store chain in our area is Publix. I checked them and even got a manager to help look in the spices and they did not sale it.

I will check a few other grocery stores when I get a chance.

Today the grocery stores like to sell pickles and not the ingredients to make them 'self.
Another source to get alum are the deodorant-stones or crystal deodorants (buy one - not take the wife's )

Regards
Gerald

Hi Harry,

I find it odd that Publix does not carry Alum since they are a large food chain. When my mom and grandmom used to can a lot they used a teaspoon of Alum to can their pickles in each quart. They said it made them crisper.

You should be able to find it in the spice aisle or you may want to try the canning supply section.

My best regards!
Tim

We looked in the spices in the spice department and the spices in the produce department. I'm afraid the big chain grocery store are getting like Home Depot and Lowe's. They only stock the fast moving products. They could care less if you need the slow moving items.

I have an old fashion feed and seed store and an old fashion hardware store nearby. I will see if either sale canning supplies.

Bought mine at Harris Teeter (grocery chain in NC)today.
It ain't cheap. $4.19 for a small little jar.

Got a crown soaking with a rusted stem end stuck in it. We'll see how it goes.

I found mine at some grocery store. I haven't tried it on a crown yet but I'm sure it is just a matter of time.

Auto parts stores sell several varieties of spray on loosener material. Most work pretty good. I have used it on head bolts and it worked great.

Amazon has the McCormick brand of alum......

Alum at Amazon