Just pulled my nearly-new Vulfix Turnback out of its dopp kit home only to find that it won't open - the screw threads seem to have become overtightened, maybe during travel or during TSA inspection. I'm a wee bit terrified of cracking it if I wrench it open too hard - does anyone have any experience with or suggestions for this problem? Thanks!
Stuck Turnback - Any Experience?
- Thread starter asadasam
- Start date
Might try putting it in the fridge for a few hours, then taking it out and letting it warm up a bit and then try to gently undo it. I never had it happen with a brush - but I have had it happen with a Dupont lighter that has a cap that screws into place - the fridge/warm up thing worked for me.
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If you have pre-shave oil, you might try pouring some on the thread. I would not use machine oil or WD-40.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks - I'll try the fridge. I've been concerned about any oil, esp. WD-40 (otherwise my go-to) - I don't have any pre-shave oil - maybe just some plain cooking or castor oil?
If the cold does not work then some non-petroleum oil may.
A soak in hot water may help.
Soooo... how did you make out?
From basic physics, you'd want the outside to expand more than the inside.
Chilling the assembly and then rapidly heating the outside makes heaps o' sense! I wouldn't resort to pliers, but you could use a thin vinyl gripper such as is sold for opening resistant jar tops, over and above the temperature thing.
As I noted elsewhere, there's some advantage to a simple and cheap snap-top plastic container that can be punched full of holes. For holding your favorite road brush.
Bon Voyage!
-Bill
Chilling the assembly and then rapidly heating the outside makes heaps o' sense! I wouldn't resort to pliers, but you could use a thin vinyl gripper such as is sold for opening resistant jar tops, over and above the temperature thing.
As I noted elsewhere, there's some advantage to a simple and cheap snap-top plastic container that can be punched full of holes. For holding your favorite road brush.
Bon Voyage!
-Bill
- Thread starter
- #9
No luck yet with the fridge and the hot water soak. Have yet to try the oil or any 2-part methods (maybe fridge, then holding high over a flame?) I'll keep you posted - thanks again for all of the suggestions!
don't know what might do to plastic. The fridge option is probably your best bet.
Sorry to hear that.
I wouldn't try high over flame. Too easy to overheat if you aren't extremely careful.
Otherwise might work.
Not to be redundant, just to add details, here's exactly what I'd do.
(1) Put the brush into the freezer. Not refrigerator, but freezer.
(2) Heat up some water in a teakettle or electric teapot. Not to boiling. Not hot enough to melt plastic. Just a lot hotter than you'd want to pour over your hand.
(3) Remove brush from the freezer and (using oven mitts or something to protect one hand) pour the hot water very slowly over the area on the outside where the threads are. And only that area - no spilling on the handle part. Rotate it to make sure it gets heated uniformly. Use plenty of hot water and do this long enough to get the outside hot, but not heat up the entire assembly. I can't tell you how long it is - trial and error + gut feel thing.
(4) Quickly, before things equilibrate, grab the parts and give it a good sharp twist. May need vinyl gripper for the small (brush) part. Repeat heating if it doesn't come loose. And if a complete failure, try the whole process again. It may require just the right timing, enough expansion of the outside case before warming up the handle. Iterations could help. I've seen that happen with parts.
I sort of doubt that oil will help. It's a very reasonable suggestion, but think the contact between "frozen" parts is too tight to admit oil. I could be wrong and it wouldn't hurt to combine what I described with a bit of thin cooking oil - as for acidity concern, you can wash that out with detergent water if it fails to help.
Best of luck!
- Bill
P.S. I should warn you that, with excessive thermal shock, some plastics could crack. I really don't think that would happen with the degree we're considering here, but I'm assuming you're at the point where there isn't a whole lot to lose and it's worth some risk.
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Just a thought - I don't mean to be a a smart *** about this - but are you sure you are turning the handle in the correct direction? With the small handle end facing you, you need to turn the small handle clockwise. This might seem counter intuitive - thus the reason I ask.
Lou
Lou
!!!???
Dang it Lou, you're right!
I finally found a photo with the arrow and engraved instruction "to unscrew" legible. Yes turn to the right. It's not a left-hand thread either, it just screws through and you're accessing it from the bottom of the screw, as it were. Totally counterintuitive.
I don't have one of these, but other photos made it look as though the engraved instruction and arrow could be hidden at times when assembled for travel - not much sticking out. So not something to take for granted...as obvious...
- Bill
- Thread starter
- #14
Nope, I'm going the right (i.e. to the right, i.e. counterintuitive way). I've actually wondered about the logic of that - figuring maybe the idea is that you're opening the business end of the brush toward you, even though all logic (or at least laziness) would dictate that you open the brush the way it's stored (hair pointing down).
Not offended at the question, though - if it were the case, it certainly wouldn't be te dumbest thing I've done in my life (or, probably, today). I'll keep trying!
Not offended at the question, though - if it were the case, it certainly wouldn't be te dumbest thing I've done in my life (or, probably, today). I'll keep trying!
I just had to de-stick two threaded metal rings, they belonged to a friend of mine and he couldn't get them apart. They were for a camera - one was a step-up adapter ring, and the other was a filter holder.
The refrigerator trick didn't fly this time. What did work was the opposite - I poured boiling water over them, then cold water. The I slathered the sides where the threads meet with soap - and then I did the hot water followed by cold water again. After that they just unscrewed easily.
Now - I would not pour boiling water over a shaving brush of any kind. But maybe a hot hot water soak followed by a cool bath - some soap, and another hot/cold treatment?
The refrigerator trick didn't fly this time. What did work was the opposite - I poured boiling water over them, then cold water. The I slathered the sides where the threads meet with soap - and then I did the hot water followed by cold water again. After that they just unscrewed easily.
Now - I would not pour boiling water over a shaving brush of any kind. But maybe a hot hot water soak followed by a cool bath - some soap, and another hot/cold treatment?
Any luck yet?
Please tell me you got this apart by now!
- Thread starter
- #18
Finally got it open today - and sorry for the lack of updates! The mysterious part: nothing (or maybe everything worked). Tried the oil, tried the fridge / hot water pour, tried the hot water soak, good old brute force with a rubber jar opener, pretty much gave up in dismay. Left it on the shelf (it's not in daily use anyway). With a trip coming up shortly, I pulled it after about two weeks, tried again for giggles, and it opened without any issue!
Thanks again, everyone, for the suggestions! I'm guessing each and every one contributed to the eventual success.
Thanks again, everyone, for the suggestions! I'm guessing each and every one contributed to the eventual success.
Good news and safe travels!
Sweet!!! Happy Trails!
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