Wood burner for stubborn screws

[Shotgun]

I recently got a spyderco mantra and I need to take the clip off. I've heard the plant likes loktite a lot so of course I can't get the screw out. The recommendation I've heard is to use a soldering iron to heat up the loktite and kill the bond. I would have to buy one and as I have no use for it after, I'm looking for an equivalent that would be used after. So, my wife thought about one of those wood burner tools where you can burn designs in wood. She's always wanted one. Would that work? My concern would be marring or damage to the finish and parts.


Ps. I'm not sending it in. I like to do my own maintenance.

 

[killgar]

I don't see why it would be a problem. The highest setting on my soldering iron, and the setting I use, is 140 watts.

Lots of people use soldering irons for wood burning. It wouldn't surprise me if a wood burner could be used as a soldering iron.

Just go slow and apply the heat gradually. Apply 5 seconds of heat, then try the screw. If that doesn't work, apply 10 seconds and try. And keep going and applying heat for longer periods of time until it works. Naturally you want to watch any nearby handle material for melting or scorching and stop at any such sign.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

A wood burner is a soldering iron with a different shaped tip. It will work just fine.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I recently got a spyderco mantra and I need to take the clip off. I've heard the plant likes loktite a lot so of course I can't get the screw out. The recommendation I've heard is to use a soldering iron to heat up the loktite and kill the bond. I would have to buy one and as I have no use for it after, I'm looking for an equivalent that would be used after. So, my wife thought about one of those wood burner tools where you can burn designs in wood. She's always wanted one. Would that work? My concern would be marring or damage to the finish and parts.


Ps. I'm not sending it in. I like to do my own maintenance.

Bill is right. A 'wood burning tool' actually IS a soldering iron, just 'repurposed' with different tips. If you use one, use the SMALLEST tip available, to keep excessive heat under control. Bigger tips transfer a lot more heat, more quickly, which can do damage if you're not careful. An actual soldering iron kit is usually equipped with smaller standard tips than wood-burning kits, to protect sensitive electronics from heat damage in soldering. A smaller 'needle point' tip would likely make the best contact with the head of small screw anyway. Additionally, some better soldering irons come with adjustable temperature control.


David

 

[Shotgun]

Thanks guys.