[Boatanchors] B&W 376 Coax Switch

[Drew P.]

Garey wrote:

"Richard - I have a problem along these lines...... I have a nice American Beauty soldering iron that I picked up at a yard sale. Heats up fine, but the solid copper tip is loose in the element. It's held in by a single small set screw (slotted head) that is frozen SOLID. I have tried.... Penetrating oil, Kroil, turning it on to heat up, hammer, impact screwdriver, and probably something else I have forgotten. It won't budge. I suppose I could drill it out and re-tap, but this is the first time I have been defeated by a rusted fastener.... So far!!" 

I have used this method: instead of trying to remove the screw, I get the tip out (if it will come out) and then run a drill of the correct diameter through the hole for the tip so that the tip has a good slip fit.  I then drill and tap a hole for a new set screw about 1/4 way around from the original set screw..  The new screw can be stainless to lessen chance for recurrence of the problem.

Drew