- Tighten the nut. Moving the nut in any direction is progress. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench.
- Tap with a hammer. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. ...
- Apply heat. Metal expands slightly when hot, which may be enough to crack the nut free. You can do this with a hair dryer, heat gun, or propane torch. ...
- Soak the nut. If the bolt is covered with orange streaks or crumbly bits of rust, scrub them away with a wire brush and wipe the area dry. ...
How to remove a loose nut?
1. Tighten the nut. Moving the nut in any direction is progress. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench. 2. Tap with a hammer. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. To make sure you hit the nut itself and not the surrounding threads, place a center punch on the nut and strike the punch with a hammer. 3. Apply heat.
What happens if you heat the nut on a bolt?
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.
How do you break a metal nut with a heat gun?
Metal expands slightly when hot, which may be enough to crack the nut free. You can do this with a hair dryer, heat gun, or propane torch. (If using an open flame within 12 inches of anything flammable, shield it with a flame-resistant fabric.) Try to turn the nut before it cools.
How do you get a stuck bolt out?
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.
How do you loosen a nut with heat?
If the nut or bolt still refuses to budge, try heating it up with a propane torch. Heating the connection causes the nut and bolt to expand and contract, which can help break the bond between them. Apply heat to the joint with the torch for several minutes, allow the nut or bolt to cool, then repeat.
How do you loosen a nut that is too tight?
0:032:50How To Remove a Stuck Nut or Bolt - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGive it a few light taps with a hammer to break loose the mating surfaces 12-sided sockets andMoreGive it a few light taps with a hammer to break loose the mating surfaces 12-sided sockets and wrenches can't get a good grip and may round off your bolt. Use a 6-sided wrench or socket.
How much heat does it take to loosen a bolt?
Aim the flame at the bolt head, not the surrounding metal. Heat for about 15 seconds, but do NOT get it cherry red (overheating damages the bolt's temper, and you'd have to replace the bolt).
How do you heat a bolt without a torch?
4:125:47Heating Stuck Nuts & Bolts Without A Torch - Wrenchin' Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipProperties you can do a three quarter inch nut. In like 15 seconds eats it up so it's pretty quickMoreProperties you can do a three quarter inch nut. In like 15 seconds eats it up so it's pretty quick and it's a good replacement for a torch especially nowadays everybody's talking about safety.
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.
How do you heat a bolt with a torch?
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 remove a stubborn nut?
Try to unscrew the stuck bolt with the extended wrench. With your other hand, grip the nut with a large pair of pliers. Pull sharply on the end of the wrench to try to loosen the stuck bolt. Ideally, the penetrating spray will have weakened the bolt's resistance so that it loosens.
Does heating a bolt weaken it?
Welding on a heat-treated bolt will weaken it because it would heat the bolt beyond its tempering point.
Can you use heat gun to heat bolt?
The most effective solution in this case is to use a heating tool, such as a blowtorch or heat gun. Applying high temperatures will expand the sound part of the bolt/screw assembly. The rust is compressed and, as soon as the metal cools, it breaks.
Why does heating a stuck bolt work?
Metal expands slightly when heated, so warming up the nut a bit makes it ever-so-slightly larger, loosening the hold enough that it will be able to break free. It's important to keep in mind what you're heating here, make sure it's only the nut, if possible – or the female threads, and not the bolt's male threads.
How do you heat nuts and bolts?
0:241:04Resistance Heat for Seized or Rusted Nuts and Bolts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA few caps with a hammer. And you continued that the nut is beginning to turn free. And there youMoreA few caps with a hammer. And you continued that the nut is beginning to turn free. And there you have it resistance heating foresees the nuts and bolts.
How do you heat metal without a flame?
1:166:03How to melt a metal without FIRE? | Reaction #1 | Induction HeatingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipZo.MoreZo.
Can you heat a bolt with a soldering iron?
Really works well for crosshead and allen type screwheads. Your idea of using the soldering iron will often work. Hold the trigger and get the tip red hot before settiing it on the screw/bolt head. Hold it there for 30 sec or so and try to loosen it.
Will heat loosen a rusted bolt?
Another method to loosen a rusted nut and bolt is to use a heat torch on low or moderate heat. Heat will allow the rusted nuts and screws to expand so that they can be loosened.
How do you remove a rusted bolt without heat?
You can try the following: Use a lubricant to loosen the bolt and then remove it with a wrench. Use a clamp to cut the fastener's head and help remove it from its position. Use an impact hammer or wrench to forcefully remove the bolt.
What do you need to loosen small nuts and bolts?
An impact driver and a set of high-end hex-shaft nut drivers are all you need to loosen small nuts and bolts. For larger nuts and bolts, you'll need an impact gun and a set of six-point, impact-rated (black finish) sockets. Ordinary chrome sockets can't handle impact work and may crack or shatter under the stress.
How to loosen a stuck bolt head?
That offset means sockets are likelier to slip off heads and round over shoulders. Fit the closed end of the wrench over the bolt head and try tugging in short pulses, instead of a full-throttle pull. That'll help loosen rust-bonded surfaces. If that doesn't do it, tap on the wrench with a plastic, brass or wooden mallet. It's a good way to loosen the bones in your hand, too, so wear leather gloves and keep your fingers well away from the impact zone!
What tool to use to loosen bolts?
When you're dealing with really big stuck bolts, a pipe wrench might be your best option, especially if you don't own a giant set of wrenches or sockets. The long handle and aggressive jaw teeth will loosen the most stubborn bolts. Just make sure you get the jaws tight against the shoulders. Pipe wrenches are also a go-to tool when bolt shoulders have been rounded over.
How to remove rust from a bolt head?
If the area is soaked with penetrant, spray it with nonflammable brake cleaner to remove it before you apply heat. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Once you've established that it's safe, aim the flame at the bolt head or nut, not the surrounding metal. Heat for about 15 seconds, but don't get it cherry red. Then spray the bolt head with water to cool it quickly. Continue spraying until it no longer steams. The expansion/contraction cracks the rust, so add more rust penetrant, let it soak and then add vibration by tapping it with a hammer or other tool. Then try to loosen it.
How to loosen a bolt in a car?
Applying heat with a propane torch can expand a nut (or threaded opening) and loosen it. If you've tried everything and still can't free a bolt or nut, try heat. But first make sure the fastener is a good distance away from hoses, belts, gas tanks or anything else that might burn up your car or kill you in an explosion.
What happens when you give a stuck bolt?
Right when you're giving a stuck bolt all your muscle, wrenches will slip, bolt heads will snap off and your hands will get smashed against something sharp. So always wear gloves and try to orient tool handles so your hands will be clear if a tool slips.
How to replace a rusty bolt?
Just cut off the stuck fasteners (or the parts around it if they're getting replaced) and buy new ones. Use a reciprocating saw with a hacksaw blade or, better yet, a cutoff tool. (You can get a cutoff tool for as little as $30 at any home center or hardware store.) Then take the leftovers to the store to match them up with new ones.
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 do you need to loosen small nuts and bolts?
An impact driver and a set of high-end hex-shaft nut drivers are all you need to loosen small nuts and bolts. For larger nuts and bolts, you'll need an impact gun and a set of six-point, impact-rated (black finish) sockets. Ordinary chrome sockets can't handle impact work and may crack or shatter under the stress.
How to loosen a stuck bolt head?
That offset means sockets are likelier to slip off heads and round over shoulders. Fit the closed end of the wrench over the bolt head and try tugging in short pulses, instead of a full-throttle pull. That'll help loosen rust-bonded surfaces. If that doesn't do it, tap on the wrench with a plastic, brass or wooden mallet. It's a good way to loosen the bones in your hand, too, so wear leather gloves and keep your fingers well away from the impact zone!
What tool to use to loosen bolts?
When you're dealing with really big stuck bolts, a pipe wrench might be your best option, especially if you don't own a giant set of wrenches or sockets. The long handle and aggressive jaw teeth will loosen the most stubborn bolts. Just make sure you get the jaws tight against the shoulders. Pipe wrenches are also a go-to tool when bolt shoulders have been rounded over.
How to make rust penetrant?
I make my own rust penetrant by mixing half automatic transmission fluid and half acetone in a metal oilcan. The solution really penetrates—after a few minutes, even the toughest bolts and nuts spin loose (with a little elbow grease, that is). Best yet, it’s stuff I already have on the garage shelf. — Calvin Stevens
What to do if you can't use a pipe wrench?
If that doesn't do it, tap on the wrench with a plastic, brass or wooden mallet. It's a good way to loosen the bones in your hand, too, so wear leather gloves and keep your fingers well away from the impact zone! Family Handyman. Pipe Wrenches Aren't Just For Pipes.
How to get a bolt head to not turn red?
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Once you've established that it's safe, aim the flame at the bolt head or nut, not the surrounding metal. Heat for about 15 seconds, but don't get it cherry red. Then spray the bolt head with water to cool it quickly. Continue spraying until it no longer steams.
How to replace a rusty bolt?
Just cut off the stuck fasteners (or the parts around it if they're getting replaced) and buy new ones. Use a reciprocating saw with a hacksaw blade or, better yet, a cutoff tool. (You can get a cutoff tool for as little as $30 at any home center or hardware store.) Then take the leftovers to the store to match them up with new ones.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to loosen a nut?
Moving the nut in any direction is progress. Then try to loosen it using a correctly sized wrench. 2. Tap with a hammer. Jarring the nut can break its bond to the bolt. To make sure you hit the nut itself and not the surrounding threads, place a center punch on the nut and strike the punch with a hammer. 3.
How to remove lime from a nut?
If the nut is encrusted with whitish lime deposits, remove what you can with a wire brush, then brush on white vinegar to dissolve what remains. If a nut resists all these attempts to loosen it, it will have to be cut off with a hacksaw or reciprocating saw.
Why is my faucet nut frozen?
But often that nut will be frozen due to corrosion or mineral buildup from years of water seepage.
How to get orange rust off bolts?
If the bolt is covered with orange streaks or crumbly bits of rust, scrub them away with a wir e brush and wipe the area dry. Then squirt a penetrating oil like Liquid Wrench on the threads as close to the problem as possible . Give it time to soak in. The longer you let the oil work, the better.
