Thread: Helpfull Things

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I can't take credit for this "helpful tip" and have posted it before, but just in case anyone missed it I'll post it again.

All of us who play with old cars have to sometimes deal with screws that are frozen in place, especially if you are removing door hinges. I have used the old hammer impact tool for years with marginal results, but we ran across a nifty way of doing it that makes it so much easier.

Essentially, what you need is an air chisel. They give you several tips with it, one of which is a pointed chisel tip. What you do is weld a 1/4 drive x 1/4 socket onto the tip so that you can insert various screwdriver attachments into it. These attachments are available at places like Home Depot, and come in Phillips, slotted, and hex head configurations.You also weld a little handle to the side of the chisel tip that is used to turn the fastener counter clockwise to get it out once you have it loose.

Here is how it works. You insert the phillips or whatever tip into the fastener you want out, and press down tightly (like you were drilling it out) Now you start the hammering action of the air chisel, while holding the handle in your left hand. After a few seconds of the air chisel pounding away at the fastener you are usually able to turn the handle counter clockwise and the screw will come out very easily.

We have used this tool a bunch of times, most recently when we removed the four doors off of Dan's '49 Ford. It made childs play of something that used to be a very tough job. Try it, I guarantee you will be amazed. Here are some pictures of how we made ours.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I can't take credit for this "helpful tip" and have posted it before, but just in case anyone missed it I'll post it again.

All of us who play with old cars have to sometimes deal with screws that are frozen in place, especially if you are removing door hinges. I have used the old hammer impact tool for years with marginal results, but we ran across a nifty way of doing it that makes it so much easier.

Essentially, what you need is an air chisel. They give you several tips with it, one of which is a pointed chisel tip. What you do is weld a 1/4 drive x 1/4 socket onto the tip so that you can insert various screwdriver attachments into it. These attachments are available at places like Home Depot, and come in Phillips, slotted, and hex head configurations.You also weld a little handle to the side of the chisel tip that is used to turn the fastener counter clockwise to get it out once you have it loose.

Here is how it works. You insert the phillips or whatever tip into the fastener you want out, and press down tightly (like you were drilling it out) Now you start the hammering action of the air chisel, while holding the handle in your left hand. After a few seconds of the air chisel pounding away at the fastener you are usually able to turn the handle counter clockwise and the screw will come out very easily.

We have used this tool a bunch of times, most recently when we removed the four doors off of Dan's '49 Ford. It made childs play of something that used to be a very tough job. Try it, I guarantee you will be amazed. Here are some pictures of how we made ours.

Don

That is really cool !!