How to Remove Rusted Bolts
When nuts and bolts are exposed to long periods of moisture or humid weather, they will form rust quite quickly. The fastenings you find in home appliances and automobile components are the ones that seem to be affected the most.
Sometimes, nuts and bolts will have corroded to such a point that they will be on the verge of collapse or won’t be working at all. It can then be nearly impossible to remove them.
So how to remove rusted bolts in this situation?
Things you will need
WD-40® Fast Release Penetrant Spray
Hammer
Clamps and a bolt cutter (if you need to cut the bolt off)
Step 1
Lubricate with WD-4O Penetrant Spray
If you find that nuts and bolts are stuck in place because of rust, an ideal solution is WD-40 Penetrant Spray. When rust makes its way into the threads of your fastenings, this product is very effective.
Simply apply the Penetrant Spray over the affected area and then tap lightly using a hammer. This will help the product to creep into the fitting of the nuts and bolts and loosen them. Make sure you wipe away any excess product and wash your hands after use if you come into contact with the product.
Step 2
Cutting
If the fastener is so severely rusted that there is no way to salvage it, then you will have to cut it out. This will make these nuts and bolts unusable and you will simply have to throw them away.
All you will need to do here is to use clamps to get a grip of the fasteners head. Then, twist hard to release.
Step 3
Apply heat with caution
Lastly, another method to remove rusted bolts, would be to use a heat torch to moderately heat them. The heat will cause the rusted nuts and bolts to expand which will, in turn, loosen them.
You should, however, be extremely careful because a lot of lubricant products are flammable and will ignite if they get exposed to flame. Take precautions while doing this by using protective gloves and goggles.
Prevention is better than cure
To protect your nuts and bolts from further rust, keep them clean and lubricate them with WD-40 Multi-Use-Product. It leaves a thin layer over the nuts and bolts to help protect them from corrosion. It will need to be re-applied regularly though.
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