Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily. If it doesn't, repeat the process to see if that helps. Repeated heating and cooling sometimes does the trick.
Do you heat the bolt or the bolt itself?
Generally, I try to heat the surrounding piece and not the bolt itself. However, even if the bolt is heated directly, conduction will usually result in heating of the surrounding material, and therefore expansion of the bore.
How do you remove a stuck bolt with a flame?
A clean flame is mostly blue and burns steadily and evenly. Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily.
What is the effect of heating on bolts and nuts?
My perception of the effect of heating is that not only do the bolt and the nut or block expand, but also the space between them expands as well, dont' forget about that. slightly larger space between as well, easier to remove. :) Show activity on this post.
How do you get a stuck bolt out of a car?
To remove a really stuck bolt, get some good penetrant— nothing works like PB Blaster —and a propane torch, available at any hardware or automotive stores. You can also use a butane torch, but it's a little cheaper and easier to go with the propane.
How do you heat up a bolt?
4:596:20How to Remove Stuck Rusted Frozen Bolt by Heating With a TorchYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just use a little bit of a fuel flame. To just kind of pre burn the area a little bit make sureMoreAnd just use a little bit of a fuel flame. To just kind of pre burn the area a little bit make sure there's no leftover penetrant or anything that might just flash into a flame.
How do you heat a bolt to loosen it?
For stubborn bolts, heat the bolt, then move the flame away and apply WD-40 against the heated bolt threads. The melting wax pulls itself into the threads to create a slippery surface. Keep open flames away from fuel and brake lines, rubber fittings and other flammable parts and materials.
Does heating a bolt work?
If you're talking about a nut on a bolt, heating the nut more than the bolt will cause the nut to enlarge relative to the bolt. This action is simple and straight-forward -- you should simply take care to concentrate the heat on the nut, not the bolt.
Can you loosen a bolt with heat?
Torch Your Stuck Bolt Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily.
How do you loosen a bolt that won't budge?
To loosen a nut or bolt that won't come off, start by spraying the connection with penetrating oil. Allow the oil to soak in for a time, then try loosening it with a wrench. To allow for more torque on the nut or bolt, slip a piece of metal pipe over the handle of the wrench to give you more leverage when turning it.
How do you free a seized bolt?
Now that you've got the necessary tools, let's get started.Step 1: Spray Penetrating Oil on and Around the Seized Bolt. ... Step 2: Put on Your Work Gloves. ... Step 3: Use Pliers and an Extended Wrench to Loosen the Bolt. ... Step 4: Tap on the Wrench With a Mallet as You Pry the Bolt Loose.
Does metal shrink when heated?
Metal expands when heated. Length, surface area and volume will increase with temperature. The scientific term for this is thermal expansion.
How do you loosen a rusted bolt at home?
0:421:58How to Unstick Rusted Nuts and Bolts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 2 tap the sides of the nut with a hammer to help the rust separate. And fall. Off. Step 3 applyMoreStep 2 tap the sides of the nut with a hammer to help the rust separate. And fall. Off. Step 3 apply heat to the side of the nut for about a minute a small narrowly directed propane torch one made
Does heating metal make it expand?
What does heat do to metal? The expansion (or contraction) of any material is due to the kinetic energy of its atoms. When a material is heated, the increase in energy causes the atoms and molecules to move more and to take up more space— that is, to expand. This is true of even a solid such as a metal.
How do you break a frozen bolt?
6:038:06TIPS FOR FROZEN BOLT REMOVAL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what I want to do is cut knock it out so I'm not just gonna bring it straight out at this pointMoreAnd what I want to do is cut knock it out so I'm not just gonna bring it straight out at this point I'm going to bring it out a little bit. And then in a little bit and then continue.
Does WD-40 loosen bolts?
0:081:08How To Loosen Rusted Parts with WD 40® Multi Use Product - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOver time exposure to air and moisture can cause a buildup of rust layers and corrosion causingMoreOver time exposure to air and moisture can cause a buildup of rust layers and corrosion causing different segments of pipe to adhere spray wd-40 multiuser product directly onto the threading. If you
How to loosen a bolt?
Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Matt Wright. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily. If it doesn't, repeat the process to see if that helps. Repeated heating and cooling sometimes does the trick.
How to get a stuck joint out of a torch?
Before you light your torch, spray the stuck joint with PB Blaster penetrating oil. Give it a few minutes to work before you apply heat.
How to ignite a gas torch?
Now light the torch—and to go slowly and pay extra attention to what you're doing. Safety should always be the first priority. Hold the torch firmly, with the nozzle pointed away from you and away from anything that could ignite. Turn the adjustment nozzle counterclockwise until you hear the hiss of gas coming out of the torch. If you bought the self-igniting assembly, just click the starter button with your trigger finger and it will light. If you didn't buy a self-igniter, use your hand spark to ignite the gas off by holding the sparker directly in front of the torch.
How to adjust propane torch?
A nice, clean propane flame. Once your torch is lit, adjust the flame using the adjustment dial on the torch unit. Turn it counterclockwise for a bigger flame, clockwise for smaller. You don't need a huge flame for the job, so adjust it until you have a small, clean flame.
Can you remove a bolt that is stuck?
Some bolts just won't budge. They are stuck, seized, stubborn, rusted, corroded, and otherwise impossible to remove. There are a number of oils and penetrants that can really help, and a good soaking should always be your first line of attack. If those actions fail, however, it may be time to break out the propane torch and use some heat.
Can you use a propane torch to remove a stuck bolt?
You can also use a butane torch, but it's a little cheaper and easier to go with the propane.
What happens to a bolt when it cools?
As the bolt cools, it contracts. The contraction, however, is not constrained. This means that the bolt can shrink in all directions, making the bolt slightly smaller.
What direction does a bolt expand?
The bolt expands in the direction of the green arrow, but cannot expand in the direction of the red arrows. As the bolt cools, it contracts. The contraction, however, is not constrained. This means that the bolt can shrink in all directions, making the bolt slightly smaller.
Why does a bolt get stuck in the first place?
The actual reason this usually works is that rust is significantly larger than the steel it's rusted from, which is why the bolt is stuck in the first place. In some other instances the reason heat works is that the bolt was applied with a threadlocker that requires heating to remove (if it comes out with no sign of rust, that's a pretty good bet)
Why can't a bolt expand inside a hole?
When the bolt is heated, it expands. Since the shaft of the bolt is constrained, it can't expand inside the hole.
Why does a bolt cool faster than a nut?
Air however is a much better insulator, so I suspect that the bolt cools faster than the nut because it makes contact with more metal, which acts as a radiator.
How to get a stuck bolt to release?
One other way to get a stuck bolt to release is to shock it by hitting it sharply. Generally this is something you do something large like a valve but I think the underlying problem is the same. For rust, I would expect that this can shatter the brittle structure of the oxide. Another factor is that there are two types of friction. There's static friction and kinetic friction. Consider a heavy (filled) cardboard box on a floor. If you try to slide it, it will initially be 'stuck'. Once the box starts moving, it slides much more easily. This is the same reason it's bad to lock up the brakes on a car. Once the rubber starts sliding, the friction is significantly reduced.
What breaks rust bonds?
The heat and expansion of the metal simply served to break those bonds. It has nothing to do with thermodynamics or any other science-y nonsense. It is the simple mechanical action of the expanding metal breaking the rust.
