Search results

You're right, I agree.

They are always slotted. :) I've worked in machine shops and I've been in boatyards for 50 years and I've never seen anyone drill out a 1/4" S/S fastener in one minute - or two minutes or anything remotely close to that. Not even on a drill press.

Even with replacement track you still have to get the old stuff off & out. And then the fastener holes might not align so fill & fair and... I would exhaust every other possibility before I resorted to drilling. I have always been able to get track and the like off without drilling fasteners...

Oh, well - only a 10 minute job in that case. :rolleyes: In my long experience, drilling S/S fasteners is a last resort and almost always ends up damaging the piece they are holding.

You guys make drilling a couple of hundred S/S fasteners sound so quick & easy. Plus you will still have the shank to remove - with pounding it out with a drift your only remaining option.

I forgot to mention - a cordless impact driver. I'm currently rebuilding my rig and I was very pleasantly surprised how effective it was. S/S fasteners that had been screwed into the spar for 40 years came out with little trouble - well, all except one. Soaked them with the heavy vinegar, hit...

Best luck I've had with S/S seized into Alu is high strength vinegar - "cleaning vinegar" or similar. I've seen it up to 20% - stronger is better. It eventually soaks into the white oxide. Also, a nut spun on enough to protect the end of the screw and then the big hammer.