Help separating metals

old.user4556

Has a sexy sister. I am also a Bodhi wannabee.
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How does one separate two metals that are screwed together that are likely to be of two different metals?

My B+W 10 stop filter is permanently attached to my lee adaptor ring (I didn't even screw it on hard!) for my photography and I'd like to get it removed if possible.

Any tips?
 

Gumbo

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You could try a proper penetrating fluid (not WD40) surprisingly the one the Halfords sell is actually pretty good. However, if a bi-metallic bond has properly formed, then frankly, you're screwed as you're practically dealing with something which has fused together on a molecular level.

The answer was really back in time, when you first put the two together. A thin film of copper grease between the two parts at the time of assembly would have solved this.

Sorry :(
 

rynnor

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Stick it in the freezer? If they are different metals they will almost certainly contract at different rates its just whether your freezer is cold enough and the difference in shrinkage rate is high enough.
 

Chilly

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Stick it in the freezer? If they are different metals they will almost certainly contract at different rates its just whether your freezer is cold enough and the difference in shrinkage rate is high enough.

you might end up cracking one, or both, of the components doing that, but it's a good last ditch solution. Or you could try the opposite: :flame:
 

old.user4556

Has a sexy sister. I am also a Bodhi wannabee.
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You could try a proper penetrating fluid (not WD40) surprisingly the one the Halfords sell is actually pretty good. However, if a bi-metallic bond has properly formed, then frankly, you're screwed as you're practically dealing with something which has fused together on a molecular level.

The answer was really back in time, when you first put the two together. A thin film of copper grease between the two parts at the time of assembly would have solved this.

Sorry :(

Fuck :( - this talk of bi-metallic bond sounds bad.

You know those rubber jar opener things they sell? Could you not use two of them to try and give the force needed to unscrew?

something like this: Jar Bottle Lid, Easy Grip Opener, For Elderly, Disabled on eBay (end time 13-Mar-10 21:11:06 GMT)

Tried one of those Chet, I reckoned that would work but to no avail. I think it's well and truly attached. Luckily, the Lee adaptor ring doesn't get in the way so it's not hampering the filter's use, I'd just like to separate them if there was an easy way.

Oh I also tried heating it on a radiator - didn't work, although wasn't really expecting it to.
 

Gumbo

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Yes, 16 years of motor and marine trade experience has meant an acute awareness of the problem.

A bit drastic, but can you cut across the ring at all? If you are prepared to sacrifice one bit, you could try and cut down the edge using a good junior hacksaw blade and then pry it away from the other thread, before cleaning the thread you leave.
 

Moriath

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they have different melting points if they different metals

You never said you wanted them in the same state after ;)
 

Roo Stercogburn

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Meh, thought this was going to be AC/DC vs Metallica. Another tub of popcorn gone to waste.
 

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