Removing stuck screws from woodwind instruments
So as my clarinet restoration saga continues, anyone have any household secrets for removing stuck screws?
Things I have tried:
Oil/wd40
Hitting with a hammer (the vibrations apparently free things up sometimes...they didn't.)
Gently heating with a lighter. (Kinda nervous about that one, with a wooden clarinet.)
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There is zero chance your lighter will damage the wood, unless you've got a clarinet made of bamboo :-) . Grenadilla wood is next to impossible to ignite. As practical matter, matches or lighters are often used to soften pad-glue and reseat pads in situ.
I would stay far away from hammers, as you're far more likely to bend things and make it all worse.
Now, WD40 is not really a lubricant. You might try silicone spray, or any of those products specifically designed to loosen stuck screws. These typically recommend applying a little and waiting 30-60 minutes to take effect. In all cases, take care to wipe off any excess fluids to avoid any possible damage to wood or to nearby pads.
There are things called 'screw extractors', which need a small hole drilling into the screw/bolt. As they are left hand threaded, as they are screwed into the hole, they grip and undo the screw. The smallest I have will do for a 1/8" screw, but there may be smaller available. Or drill slightly larger holes until the screw is drilled through - carefully! A Dremel-type tool will be good for this.
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