Stripping paint off threads

[miamicuse]

I have hurricane panels over my windows. There tracks are mounted on the concrete walls with a threaded connection every six inches or so, the panels have circular holes at the bottom, the panel holes are lined up with the threaded connections then secured with wing nuts.



When I had the house painted several years ago the painters put paint on these threads. So now the wing nuts won't go on smooth, some of them I need a plier to thread the wing nut on. I know I can probably clean the threads up with a metal wire brush...but I have like 20 windows so over 200 of these threads at the bottom, and another 200+ on top.

I am looking for some quicker more efficient way to do this.

I am thinking, if I can put together something with a matching female thread, that I can fit into my cordless drill or impact driver, I can just drive that onto the male threads and strip the paint off, then back out and move to the next, and should only take a few seconds to clean each thread. Thoughts?

A bit holder, with a hex bolt into the bit holder, then the hex bolt into a long coupling nut? Glue together?

[MTN REMODEL LLC]

A wire wheel on your drill.....?????

Or a thread chasing die for any difficult ones....

[joed]

second the wire wheel.

[SeniorSitizen]

Using a 3 corner (triangular) 6" slim taper file, file a groove or 2 or 3 inside a hex nut to thread depth then you can use it and your cordless drill to chase the threads.

That is, if the drill chuck will accept a nut the size you need. For that many I would modify the nut until it did chuck up if it were too large.

[hkstroud]

Purchase a 1/2" to 1/4" wrot copper coupling. File a couple slots in the 1/2" end to fit over the wings of wing nuts. Solder a short piece of 1/4" copper in the 1/4" end.

Chuck that in your drill. Go slow.

If 1/2" is to big, use 3/8.

[joecaption]

Trying to chase a bolt with a nut is a sure way to end up with crossed threads.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/POMA-Stee...011B/202385848

A wire wheel like this will rip the paint off in seconds.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-wi...ank-60318.html

[ChuckF.]

For that many studs buy yourself a rethreading die which is "a matching female thread". Measure the diameter of the stud, or bring a nut with you to where you can get one. Home Depot sells them online but doesn't stock many of them in stores. Look for a machine shop supply store in your city.

[SPS-1]

Originally Posted by miamicuse

I am thinking, if I can put together something with a matching female thread, that I can fit into my cordless drill or impact driver, I can just drive that onto the male threads and strip the paint off, then back out and move to the next, and should only take a few seconds to clean each thread. Thoughts?

A bit holder, with a hex bolt into the bit holder, then the hex bolt into a long coupling nut? Glue together?

QuikLine Thread Chaser would do that. Not sure what the price is though.

But a standard threading die would be just a few dollars and readily available anywhere. Just that a standard handle would likely hit the other studs --- you would have to make something up. I would just do it by hand --- standing on a ladder running a drill with a thread cutter on the end sounds like a good way to bugger up threads.

Wire wheel going to be difficult to brush just the threads without scraping up the paint an adjacent surfaces.

[carpdad]

Wire wheel would be the sure bet but don't use a grinder for it, only drill. I would start with brass wires if you can find it. Aggressive wires could damage the bolts. Also wear a goggle. I was grinding a paint off a rail and broken off wires were like arrows.
Copper fitting cleaning wire brush from the plumbing works well. I buy the twisted wire handle and cut off the handle for chucking into a drill.
Make a slotted sheetmetal cover so you don't scratch the brackets and you probably don't have to clean it 100%.

[mske390]

IMO a die would be quickest and cleanest way

[ZTMAN]

And after you get done stripping, put a piece of clear vinyl tubing over the threads to prevent gunk build up. Keeps the threads nice and clean and makes the installation go a lot quicker when the storm is on the way. I also hit them with a little lubricant before I slide on the tubing

[jlhaslip]

Battery powered Dremel with a wire wheel