Loosening old rusted bolts with a round slotted head
#1
05-16-16, 09:28 AM
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Loosening old rusted bolts with a round slotted head
I am trying to disassemble a 20 year old bench where the bolts affixing the deteriorated boards to the metal frame are locked up due to age and some rust. The bolts have a round head with just a slot so I can't use a ratchet and I am having no luck with a large screwdriver. The bolts screw into the frame in an enclosed spot so there is no nut on the interior. I have tried spraying the bolt with WD-40 to loosen them up but to no avail. Any advice on how I might loosen up and remove the bolts? I am trying to reuse the bench frame which is still solid.
#6
05-16-16, 03:32 PM
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Sometimes you can use a Dremel tool to cut a part of the head off on each side leaving flats for an adjustable wrench. If you were really good you could cut all four sides to fit an 8-point socket but not something I'd try.
#7
05-17-16, 07:32 AM
Ken suggests an impact driver. The one I have uses a hammer and you set it to rotate CCW for removal. The hammer blow provides a lot of downward pressure and the simultaneous rotation often works.
How many of these do you need to remove? I would also take a grinder along.
Bud
How many of these do you need to remove? I would also take a grinder along.
Bud
#9
05-17-16, 07:54 AM
Nothing against WD40, I use my share of it, but not for what you're doing. It's doing nothing for you. If the threads are gritty or rusty, pick up a can of Break Away or PB Blaster. Otherwise, I think that you have been given some good ideas. If they're as I am imagining, round heads recessed into the wood, and none of the aforementioned ideas work, I would probably drill the center of the head with a bit the size of the bolt or slightly larger.
#11
05-17-16, 08:24 AM
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Got a friend to take pics. See attached
Cutting the bolts won't allow me to reassemble the bench with new bolts which is the whole point. I need to remove so I can use the bench frame.
Thanks all for the advice to date.
#12
05-17-16, 08:27 AM
A snug-fitting bit in a ratchet or a square-shank screwdriver with an adjustable wrench holding the driver shaft from spinning. If you don't plan to re-use the wood you could chisel or gouge your way down to the head and grab it with a stout pair of vise-grips.
If rust is bad the bolt will snap--and that's a blessing vs. running a rusty nut all the way off the threads.
If either end is not recessed I would just cut them off with an angle grinder fitted with a thin fiber cut-off disk.
EDIT to add:
Now that there's pictures I would recommend using a 1" holesaw with the pilot drill removed to cut the wood away from the bolts. Wrap tape around it just shy of the thickness of the wood. The remainder around the bolts will crush and crumble with vise-grips or channel-locks. THEN use the PB Blaster to free up the threads in those inserts.
If rust is bad the bolt will snap--and that's a blessing vs. running a rusty nut all the way off the threads.
If either end is not recessed I would just cut them off with an angle grinder fitted with a thin fiber cut-off disk.
EDIT to add:
Now that there's pictures I would recommend using a 1" holesaw with the pilot drill removed to cut the wood away from the bolts. Wrap tape around it just shy of the thickness of the wood. The remainder around the bolts will crush and crumble with vise-grips or channel-locks. THEN use the PB Blaster to free up the threads in those inserts.
