MNtadpole Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Well I finally got around to attempt what I thought would be an easy mag tube removal. Well long story short, the project didn't go as planned. As stated in some of the installation tutorials, the red thread locker is no joke. I tightened the M4's received to one of those Black and Decker work benches (crap idea btw) and used a heat gun. I applied heat primarily to the mag tube, which obviously transferred up the receiver, which got equally hot as well. I tried working it for an hour with this setup and only managed to loosen the OEM tube maybe half a turn to 3/4ths. My plan today is to pickup a bench vise, which should hold the receiver more firmly. Hopefully that is the key to victory! I feel like the crap B&D workbench didn't offer me a stable and solid enough platform to make all efforts in my favor. I'm thinking of grabbing an infrared thermometer too. Wish me luck lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClackClackBAM Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 It’s not just the vise. Benelli put a shit-ton of red thread locker on there. I had to heat mine several times because I’d get half a turn here, 3/4 turn there. Eventually I just said screw it and focused the heat on the inner part of the receiver where the threads screw into. Headed it up until there was a decent amount of smoke coming out of the tube then I was able to spin it out. Just be patient then you’ll get it out without damaging your finish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNtadpole Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 31 minutes ago, ClackClackBAM said: It’s not just the vise. Benelli put a shit-ton of red thread locker on there. I had to heat mine several times because I’d get half a turn here, 3/4 turn there. Eventually I just said screw it and focused the heat on the inner part of the receiver where the threads screw into. Headed it up until there was a decent amount of smoke coming out of the tube then I was able to spin it out. Just be patient then you’ll get it out without damaging your finish. Well that's good to hear! I started to see mine smoking too. LOL I still have red marks on my palm from how hard I was gripping the tube last night. yikes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonyman74 Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 That sucks. Both the M4's I've owned the mag came off fairly easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClackClackBAM Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 1 hour ago, MNtadpole said: Well that's good to hear! I started to see mine smoking too. LOL I still have red marks on my palm from how hard I was gripping the tube last night. yikes! Yup, sounds like yours is sealed on there as hard as mine was. Just be patient with the heat gun and focus on that spot I told you about. About two minutes of direct heat should be enough to loosen it up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Look at buying a MAPP torch. I bought mine at Home Depot. They’re cheap and pretty safe. They deliver a lot more heat quickly than a heat gun. It’s no acetylene torch, so you don’t have to worry about melting metal. The faster you heat the magazine tube, the less heat will wick into the receiver. It has an igniter in the trigger so it’s easy to ignite and shut off. No mixture knobs to mess with or anything. If you can operate a BBQ igniter, you can operate this torch. Apply the heat to the base of the steel magazine tube and rotate it around the tube evenly. Apply heat for 20 seconds, try to unscrew the tube. Apply more as needed. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-BZ8250HTKC-MAP-Pro-Hose-Torch-Kit-BZ8250KC/203391035 Same one I have. After 6 years or so, I’m still using the same bottle. Getting a vise is a good idea. Get some padded jaws to avoid marring your work. Check where you’re clamping carefully. You don’t want things like the trigger pin under the clamping area. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNtadpole Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 2 minutes ago, StrangerDanger said: Look at buying a MAPP torch. I bought mine at Home Depot. They’re cheap and pretty safe. They deliver a lot more heat quickly than a heat gun. It’s no acetylene torch, so you don’t have to worry about melting metal. The faster you heat the magazine tube, the less heat will wick into the receiver. It has an igniter in the trigger so it’s easy to ignite and shut off. No mixture knobs to mess with or anything. If you can operate a BBQ igniter, you can operate this torch. Apply the heat to the base of the steel magazine tube and rotate it around the tube evenly. Apply heat for 20 seconds, try to unscrew the tube. Apply more as needed. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-BZ8250HTKC-MAP-Pro-Hose-Torch-Kit-BZ8250KC/203391035 Same one I have. After 6 years or so, I’m still using the same bottle. Getting a vise is a good idea. Get some padded jaws to avoid marring your work. Check where you’re clamping carefully. You don’t want things like the trigger pin under the clamping area. Thanks Stranger Danger, valuable ideas right there, especially with trigger pins. LOL I'm tempted to look at the MAPP torch, but its like 70 bucks, plus the cost of a Craigslist Wilton vise...ugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 You’ll use both frequently after you buy them. Definitely won’t be a one and done thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milspec Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 7 hours ago, ClackClackBAM said: It’s not just the vise. Benelli put a shit-ton of red thread locker on there. I had to heat mine several times because I’d get half a turn here, 3/4 turn there. Eventually I just said screw it and focused the heat on the inner part of the receiver where the threads screw into. Headed it up until there was a decent amount of smoke coming out of the tube then I was able to spin it out. Just be patient then you’ll get it out without damaging your finish. Yup, when you see some smoke plumes come out that usually indicates the thread locker has been defeated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milspec Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 3 hours ago, MNtadpole said: Thanks Stranger Danger, valuable ideas right there, especially with trigger pins. LOL I'm tempted to look at the MAPP torch, but its like 70 bucks, plus the cost of a Craigslist Wilton vise...ugh! You can always go this route. You don't have to get the one with the extended hose. Although nice, not necessary. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-TS4000KC-Trigger-Start-Torch-Kit-TS4000KC/203368730 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNtadpole Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 LOL...yesterday's frustration resulted in the purchase of a decent bench vise and a MAPP torch! This s*** is about to get real!? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNtadpole Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 SUCCESS! Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Now I am part of Team Uber-Mag-Tube! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Good job! I’m trying to convince myself to spend the money and buy one of those Briley carbon fiber magazine tubes. I think that will look awesome on my H2O build. Plus cut a little more weight off the front. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Talked myself into it and ordered one up for the H2O. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topleft Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Glad to read others struggled as well. I thought it just me experiencing more smoke as I gained more movement! Happy it worked out it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClackClackBAM Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 10 hours ago, MNtadpole said: SUCCESS! Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Now I am part of Team Uber-Mag-Tube! Hell yeah! Looks good bud! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznwhip Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 13 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: Talked myself into it and ordered one up for the H2O. I have that tube and a couple things I didn't like about it... Looks to be layered CF strips instead of a full CF sheet. Also isn't UV treated so will golden over time. I had my local auto shop spray some UV clear on it to protect the tube. Also that tube is cheapest here: https://www.performanceshootinghq.com/fulllengthbenellim4carbonfibermagazine.aspx 15% off with code summer15off and free shipping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 Good deal. I already placed the order. Interesting about the UV burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filthy phil Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 22 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: Good job! I’m trying to convince myself to spend the money and buy one of those Briley carbon fiber magazine tubes. I think that will look awesome on my H2O build. Plus cut a little more weight off the front. I'm local to them. Dont wanna fk with the labor & torch. How much labor do y'all think they will hit me up for? Hour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNtadpole Posted July 12, 2020 Author Share Posted July 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, filthy phil said: I'm local to them. Dont wanna fk with the labor & torch. How much labor do y'all think they will hit me up for? Hour? I've never hired a gunsmith to do any extensive work...so I couldn't say accurately. What I can say is that it took my mechanically inclined self to hit it with a MAPP torch and got it off in under 5 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznwhip Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 3 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: Good deal. I already placed the order. Interesting about the UV burn. If you don't leave your gun out in the sun for extensive periods of time or shoot mostly indoors, it won't be a problem, but coming from the aftermarket auto industry, we see a lot of cheaper CF parts turn gold over time from UV. Won't have any performance problems and weight savings is easily worth on the M4, but aesthetics will suffer. Getting a UV treated clear coat will help and also smooth out some of the roughness with CF strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'zaster Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 On 7/10/2020 at 9:44 PM, MNtadpole said: SUCCESS! Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Now I am part of Team Uber-Mag-Tube! Excellent!! Looks great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knonaime Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 I have been reading this forum for years - finally decided to join. Thank you all to the wealth of information you have provided. Watched a lot of Stranger Danger videos on this site and others. I put the question regarding manufacturing process on the CF tube to Briley. It was mentioned above about cf production especially on automotive parts - especially an issue regarding engine parts and intakes; putting cf into BMW's is like putting them into a pizza oven, and how this would pertain to magazine tube. Link regarding manufacturing/producing composite tubing: https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/blog/4-methods-for-producing-composite-tub I bought the Briley CF tube a few months ago and have run about 200rds through the shotgun. So far no discoloration or hangups. I ran snap caps through for awhile before actually using live rounds. I had to set my heatgun to 1100f to get the threadlocker to break. when i use red a single a single bead does it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClackClackBAM Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 28 minutes ago, Knonaime said: have been reading this forum for years - finally decided to join. Welcome to boards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Knonaime said: I have been reading this forum for years - finally decided to join. Thank you all to the wealth of information you have provided. Watched a lot of Stranger Danger videos on this site and others. I put the question regarding manufacturing process on the CF tube to Briley. It was mentioned above about cf production especially on automotive parts - especially an issue regarding engine parts and intakes; putting cf into BMW's is like putting them into a pizza oven, and how this would pertain to magazine tube. Link regarding manufacturing/producing composite tubing: https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/blog/4-methods-for-producing-composite-tub I bought the Briley CF tube a few months ago and have run about 200rds through the shotgun. So far no discoloration or hangups. I ran snap caps through for awhile before actually using live rounds. I had to set my heatgun to 1100f to get the threadlocker to break. when i use red a single a single bead does it. If they were videos, they weren’t mine! Hopefully it wasn’t the 45 minute, ‘Smokin’ like a chmney,’ video! I’d probably stick with Blue Loctite for a carbon fiber magazine tube. I wouldn’t want to have to apply heat to it if I ever needed it apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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