Nipple removal trick

[kenysd]

Ok, finally got the nipples out from my Colt original 1861 Navy .36. 157 years old and they were Stuck!
heat with torch, apply Kroil, put in freezer, put on Kroil. again and again.

Nothing would free them...so I did this.

large C clamp, leather covered cylinder in vise, tight.
nipple wrench on top, C clamp tightened it to the cylinder. nice and tight...
keep it straight up,
Apply vice grip pressure on the nipple wrench, keep the clamp Tight. wear gloves, and turn the vice grip and the wrench at the same time.
go back and forth, again and again. and it WILL come free.

see the picture. all six remove and they are fine...cleaned greased and back in the gun..
go for it...Luck...Ken

 

[Yankeedave]

Neat rig.

 

[Pollaco]

That is similar to how I removed a stuck nipple once. Except I didn't have a large enough C clamp handy so I did something unusual but it worked. I jacked up my pickup a little and then let the hitch back down on the nipple wrench to hold it in place.It took a few trys. Gravity supplied more force than this old man could.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Genius is it's own reward. Well done both of you.

 

[JOHN42768]

Genius is it's own reward. Well done both of you.

Welcome, enjoy

 

[damYankee]

Where else can you meet someone who uses a truck to remove stubborn nipple?
This is a great forum. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Peter Stines]

Good job. Maybe take out a patent and market it. No I'm NOT kidding. This is a job that so many gunsmiths face and the failure rate is high. Next time I have a problem like this I'll use your method. Thanks for sharing.