Lens Mount Hard Conversion!?

So I have an m42 adapter to use with my Canon Rebel T1i and A few lenses that don't fit the m42 criteria.

So i've been slowly working on hard adapting one of my old Minolta MC mounts into a Pentax screw mount for use with an m42 adapter. I've been successful when I mounted my 50mm 1.4 MC mount into m42, but I've been having trouble with my Fisheye lens.

The operation went smoothly, got the mount portion off from the main body and now I'm stuck at removing the actual mount from that. The mount body is what I believe is aluminum and the mount itself is a harder metal, possibly steel. There are 3 small screws that attach this mount to the mount body and I have come to the conclusion they are all but impossible to remove in any dignified manner.

Normally I would just go with a different mount/mount body completely, but this is where the problem lies. I can't. The aperture control is also part of the mount body portion. So unless I want to shoot at 2.8 all the time, which is a fine place to be, I can't achieve the Infinite focus I gained with the 50mm I adapted.

So here is my question, if you can help me answer it, what would be a good way to remove these screws?


I've attempted to use screwdrivers, and successfully stripped one of the screws pretty badly, the others yielded the same results but I stopped before to much damage was done.

I've attempted to use a small drill bit, but only successfully managed to ruin 2 drill bits.
I've sprayed the bits with wd-40 and a slur of other liquids to try and loosen them.
Still in the search for a small enough screw remover, but doubt my success.

Another question would be, what damage would you suppose boiling the entire portion of the body to attempt to use loosen the screws would cause.

No parts of glass, are included and I've removed all other parts that would be hugely affected by such an operation excluding a few larger, well secured pieces of the aperture control.

Any help or advice would be very helpful.

Sorry about the long post!

You are adapting Minolta lenses to M42, why?

gasrocks wrote in post #9220065
You are adapting Minolta lenses to M42, why?

To use with my m42 adapter and still get better focusing distance.

EDIT--

Also, FOR SCIENCE!

Some pics would be nice, just to see how bad it is.

Left handed drill bits are an option. You could also try cutting a slot in the head of the screw with a very small dremel blade, then using a flathead screwdriver to remove.

This goes without saying, but stopping before you get to this point is the best solution. I work on a lot of computers and electronics, and you sometimes only have one shot. I've learned this lesson.

MrContact wrote in post #9220075
To use with my m42 adapter and still get better focusing distance.

EDIT--

Also, FOR SCIENCE!

Why not convert to EOS-mount straight away? It'll give you a little more leeway, maybe just enough.

Kind regards, Wim

What Minolta lenses are you working on? Only a couple are worth the effort.

The screws might have been locked in place with a product similar to Lock-tight. Heat might help free them, it does break the bond of some types of thread lock compounds, but there are others which are permanent. In the end you might need to drill the screw out, I would suggest starting with very high quality drill bits, and then tapping the holes fr a new screw.

Wayne