Rolex 6426 Pendant tube broken and stuck in the case

[Neverenoughwatches]

11 minutes ago, Waggy said:

"Grade 904L stainless steel is a non-stabilized austenitic stainless steel with low carbon content. This high alloy stainless steel is added with copper to improve its resistance to strong reducing acids, such as sulphuric acid."

904L is also nonmagnetic so you can also confirm with a magnet

How hard is that grade waggy ? I take it brehmer is looking at carbide to drill it out. Cousins sell carbide burrs ball profile starting at 0.8mm .   less risk of braking than a drill. How about just slow and steady with a pin vice.  If the extractor has cut quickly then probably not that hard.

Edited August 1, 2023 by Neverenoughwatches

[Waggy]

Rockwell hardness of mild steel is around 70 HRB, and 904L is in the range 70-90 HRB. So I think carbide should be OK. It also seems fairly malleable with good toughness, so should cut well and not chip or crack.

I would use cooling (3 in 1 oil and/or a damp cloth) to stop the steel discolouring due to any heat generated, blueing on hands is nice , but not the case.

You could be there a while with a pin vice, perhaps take 80% away with a dremmel and finish off the last bit using your suggested pin vice method to get the best of both worlds?

[RichardHarris123]

Hold the case in a vise, protected with cloth and try tapping an old screwdriver blade in the direction of rotation.  It may loosen it.

[BrehmerR]

Just to update, I managed to broach out the old pendant tube to the threads and then managed to clean out the threads well enough with a tap and then screw the new pendant tube in without any issues. A bit scary but it certainly works and it looks really nice(:

[CYCLOPS]

that is what we all wanted to hear, newer case tubes have a tool/wrench for insertion and removal, the old ones had to be taken out most of the time with a broach, heating the case helps loosen any type of adhesive ......