<HTML><HTML>Thump, While oxidation may be a problem, there is= a way that threaded steel into the aluminum rail may be less likely to wear= away the tap in the aluminum if a loctite mild strength thread locker were = applied to the screw before carefully guiding it back in the rail. Loctite produces a number of products (= bonding agents in various strengths) that can be administered onto threads t= hat, when applied, and the screw put back in place and it dries, it will for= m a bond that can be broken with regular hand tools, (action driver or screw= driver in this case) but will not come loose on its own. I've also used teflon tape on screw thr= eads, this works too. As for preventing oxidation, I don't know of any produ= ct. I believe preserving the tapped holes by careful guiding (TLC) when r= e placing the screw and/or using loctite can prevent stripping out. Julia Gottchall, Reading, PA In a message dated 12/19/03 1:09:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, tomtuner@comca= st.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Tom, I merely wanted advice on = preventing additional oxidation, as this tends to mess up the flange screw threads and decrease the longevity of these quality instruments. Thump </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>