mast splicing

[Douglas]

Hi Mike and Brian , I was thinking of using oval head screws, for one reason only.

I have found that upon removal of flat head fasteners, the phillips head "cams out" all too easily,,,,,, where as the oval head has more "meat" at the driver bit insertion area at the phillips slots.

Sometimes for removal purposes, of a v stuck fastener, I use a center punch on the screw head skirt, after I have already "camed out" the driver slots, trying to remove it,,, and the oval head would give me more "meaty skirt" to pound on !

While on this subject , what is best chemical to use , to put on a "stuck" , ss fastener, to disolve the white powder, inorder to make removing the screw, easier ? Since caustic soda is used on aluminum, before anodizing to clean the metal, could it be used to remove the white powder around a corroded fastener,,,,, caustic soda, being a lye solution ???

Any knowledgable suggestions out there in rigging land ?

Douglas