If you heat a bolt it expands in length far greater than in thickness. The length of the nut is around the bolt and expands far greater in length/circumference than in thickness. The nut gets much bigger around than the thickness of the bolt, loosening the bonds and is easier to remove.
Why do I have to heat up my bolts?
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)
Is it better to heat the nut or the bolt?
The common (sense) advice is to heat the nut, not the bolt. If you really think what you propose here and in your answer actually works, post some video of it with measured torques. The answer is surprisingly simple: the bolt expands, but the nut expands more.
How to expand a bolt?
This action is simple and straight-forward -- you should simply take care to concentrate the heat on the nut, not the bolt. For other scenarios you need to think a bit about the situation and concentrate heat on the part that you want to expand. Sometimes using cooling of some sort on one part helps. Well if you heat it enough that it melts...
How do I stop a bolt from melting?
Sometimes using cooling of some sort on one part helps. Well if you heat it enough that it melts... The common (sense) advice is to heat the nut, not the bolt. If you really think what you propose here and in your answer actually works, post some video of it with measured torques.
Does heating a bolt help remove 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.
Why do you heat up stuck bolts?
That's where a bit of heat comes in handy. 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.
Is it easier to remove a bolt when it's hot or cold?
If you're having trouble removing a stuck bolt, common advice is to heat the bolt up.
Will heat loosen a rusted bolt?
Tip #4: Apply heat Like many things, when metal heats up it expands, and when it cools back down it contracts. This simple expansion/contraction process can sometimes be all it takes to break the iron grip rust has on your bolt.
How do you loosen a bolt that won't budge?
0:032:50How To Remove a Stuck Nut or Bolt - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a 6-sided wrench or socket. If the bolt still won't break free consider using a tool extender toMoreUse a 6-sided wrench or socket. If the bolt still won't break free consider using a tool extender to added torque just be careful not to break off the head of the bolt.
How do you unscrew 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.
Does WD-40 help loosen bolts?
To loosen these, an ideal solution for this is to use WD-40® Penetrant Spray. Simply apply the Penetrant Spray over the affected nuts and bolts, then tap them lightly using a hammer. This will help the product seep into the nuts and bolts' fittings, allowing you remove the stuck fasteners.
What is the fastest way to unscrew a rusted bolt?
0:421:58How to Unstick Rusted Nuts and Bolts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 3 apply heat to the side of the nut for about a minute a small narrowly directed propane torchMoreStep 3 apply heat to the side of the nut for about a minute a small narrowly directed propane torch one made especially for small jobs will work best for this job but be careful.
What is the fastest way to remove a rusted bolt?
Lubricate the rusty screw, nut, or bolt Lubricating oils will penetrate rust and provide deep lubrication to loosen the nut or screw. If the rust has reached the threads of the fastener, then there is no better product to use to loosen it than WD-40® Specialist® Fast Release Penetrant Spray.
Does heat help loosen metal?
Metal expands when heated, so it could be used to loosen a frozen bolt/nut combo.
Can Coke loosen a rusted bolt?
Things You'll Need. Coke, also known as Coca-Cola, is a soft drink. But a few of its ingredients are acids, which make it useful for removing rust. Acids such as phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid or oxalic acid are found in most commercial rust removers.
How do you remove a seized bolt without heat?
There are a bunch of ways to remove rusted bolts 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.
Should the Assembly be heated or cooled to make it easier to remove the nut?
Apply heat. Metal expands slightly when hot, which may be enough to crack the nut free.
Do bolts loosen clockwise or counterclockwise?
0:321:26How To Easily Remember Which Way To Tighten Or Loosen Nuts Or ScrewsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay lefty loosey righty tighty.MoreOkay lefty loosey righty tighty.
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.
What happens if you don't close the propane valve?
If you neglect to close the valve, you'll start to lose gas as soon as you screw it on. Otherwise, don't worry about leaking propane. The tank will remain sealed until the nozzle is all the way on. At most, you may catch a whiff of gas in the air.
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.
Why do you heat a bolt?
The benefits of heating the bolt come after the cooldown, not while it is bound tighter by its greater expansion than its hole. Particularly, by then having the bolt colder than its surroundings so it is relatively smaller.
How to break up corrosion on a bolt?
Heat the bolt, avoiding heating its surroundings so the bolt can compress and break up the corrosion, let the surroundings come up to temp so then cooling the bolt with something like an upside-down “can of air” will shrink it more rapidly than its surroundings, lubricate the bolt, jar it, hit it, punch it, impact it, torque it, etc., to help break the corrosion bonds, lubricate the bolt again, and you have a recipe for loosening it. Rinse and repeat, as needed. Try to rotate it just a tiny bit before repeating to change the thread engagement for the next expansion compression cycle.
What is cast iron used for?
Cast iron is used in a few items that cycle high heat regularly, such as wood burning stoves. Cast iron and high carbon steels specifically take longer to heat reducing warping to minimal or immeasurable amounts if designed with heat expansion joints. Some high carbon
What is welding distortion?
Weld Distortion is something that can be limited to an acceptable level, not totally prevented.
What happens to the atoms of a metal when heated?
When metal is heated, the atoms begin to vibrate. This increased motion causes the atoms to move farther apart. When the atoms move farther apart, the metal expands. This tendency for metals to expand when heated is called thermal expansion.
Does shocking a bolt work?
Another thing i noticed is that shocking the bolt works even better than straight heat does. Repeatedly heating and cooling it with water or penetrating oil. Then do a final heat and the bolt should come out easy. Also the higher the temp of the metal the more malleable it becomes allowing it to deform and stretch around corrosion.
Does red rust shrink?
There are some good answers. The others have not mentioned that red rust, Fe2O3 has a lower density than black magnetite Fe3O4. So if red rust is heated until it becomes black magnetite it shrinks. Heating the bolt can cause the oxides that are binding the bolt in the hole to shrink just enough to let penetrating oil in.
