Stripped Screw Help

Rusty said:

Last night, I started the relatively simple process of installing the Midwest Industries SCAR SSR rail on my SCAR 17. Everything was going fine until I stripped one of the screws I was trying to remove. Specifically, it is the left screw that hold the front plate in place (I'm not sure of its exact nomenclature). I used heat per the directions and the right screw came out easily but the left one stripped. I already tried all the "easy" remedies for stripped screws but, alas, no joy. I need help from the experts. Has anyone encountered this problem? How do I remove this screw without damaging anything? I don't care if the screw is destroyed in the process since alternates were provided. Any good ideas on removing it? Thanks for your help; I really appreciate it.

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Oh that one.

Here is what I would do...

Get a quality 7/64" allen T-handle wrench and file the end to a slight 45* bevel then file sides just a little. I don't want to fit, but almost fit. Then I would heat the snot out of the screw just to make sure I disabled the thread locker. It is not so much that you want to heat the screw super hot as you want to heat soak it to make sure the upper isn't wicking the heat away like a big heat sink and keeping the deeper threads cool.

After it is well heated, heat soaked for several minutes to the highest temp you are willing to take it, hammer the T-handle into the socket with a hammer, force it in there.

Now here is the trick, do not twist it hard, rather keep a little twisting pressure on it and keep tapping the T-handle like it is an air impact taking off lug nuts from the wheel of your car. The constant rapping on a hot fastener is what will break it loose without camming it out again.

Good luck.