Rusted nuts: Torch vs. CRC Freeze-Off ?

[ex-x-fire]

I try turning them right after I quench them, the water drives the heat deeper inside, so I'm told.

 

[Revelations]

I'd rathet freeze my nuts, than torch them. [emoji41]

Don't do stupid things in stupid places, with stupid people!

 

[Schurkey]

the water drives the heat deeper inside, so I'm told.

Huh?

 

[Thumper68]

I have had luck heating to red hot then using canned air, turn the can upside down and you get liquid air almost as good as liquid nitrogen. And you can get it cheap at the dollar store.

The wax trick works well too.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Huh?

I don't know, I'm not mythbusters.

 

[bushmechanic]

This all depends on whether you're trying to shrink a bolt or expand a nut...

Different solutions are for different problems. Go try to get a stud out of an aluminum engine block with a torch, and see how that works out for you.

 

[maxpower_hd]

This all depends on whether you're trying to shrink a bolt or expand a nut...

Different solutions are for different problems. Go try to get a stud out of an aluminum engine block with a torch, and see how that works out for you.

I don't know about an aluminum block but I have done it with plenty of studs in steel. That is what the quenching is all about. Heat the stud red, quench to cool and remove. The expansion then subsequent shrinkage breaks the rust bond.

Nuts I usually just heat. No need to quench.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I've had varying success welding nuts to broken studs as well. Sometimes you can get the weld to penetrate and sometimes you can't. But I did see this video that would be helpful. In my last case I probably could have welded the nail straight then welded the nut to the nail. Next time I will have to try that.

 

[Skin]

Can someone explain the use of wax to me? Never heard of that...

TIA

Heat expands the space between the threads, melted wax gets drawn into those spaces and acts as a lubricant. I've found a penetrant or never seize actually works better during the "quench" but wax is probably a lot safer for your lungs.

This all depends on whether you're trying to shrink a bolt or expand a nut...

Different solutions are for different problems. Go try to get a stud out of an aluminum engine block with a torch, and see how that works out for you.

Its done all the time. Heat/cool breaks the corrosion between the steel and aluminum. A large part of the reason that welding a nut to a broken off stud is so effective is the extreme heat from the weld.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

FWIW: I have zero positive results using wax.


Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I just end up with a stuck fastener, which is now surrounded by melted wax.

 

[Schurkey]

Heat/cool breaks the corrosion between the steel and aluminum. A large part of the reason that welding a nut to a broken off stud is so effective is the extreme heat from the weld.

I have little faith in chemicals, and a lot of positive experience with heat.

 

[dogdog]

don't work.... for the really stubborn nuts... works no better than WD40 on regular seemingly rusted nut.... still have 1/2 bottle left after failing tries to get one stubborn nut loose....

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

My experience has been that penetrants work on mildly rusted stuff or fasteners that will turn a little, but are very stiff/bind. It its truly stuck, then heat (quenched by water, penetrant or wax) is needed to free.

 

[Buckgnarly]

FWIW: I have zero positive results using wax.


Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I just end up with a stuck fastener, which is now surrounded by melted wax.

You use Oxy-acetylene or at least oxy-propane? Every time I have done it there is no wax left outside, only wicked into the threads. Gotta hit it when it is RED hot....where penetrates usually just burn off and not get into the threads, the wax only liquifies and gets into the threads.

 

[dogdog]

I tried that wax trick.... is that some special wax used ? it just vaporized when I tries to apply it on the hot Nuts, with a lot of waxy smell all over the air, nothing in the threads at all and I just used a propane torch.

 

[Bondo]

and I just used a propane torch.

Ayuh,.... Not nearly enough heat,.....

O2/ Ac is the way to go,....

 

[Buckgnarly]

I tried that wax trick.... is that some special wax used ? it just vaporized when I tries to apply it on the hot Nuts, with a lot of waxy smell all over the air, nothing in the threads at all and I just used a propane torch.

I am sure there are "grades" of wax (that I know nothing of), I only have used bees wax and even at glowing red hot it just liquifies, does not burn off at all.

 

[Ghost11]

Kroil is the best. Pb blaster is good. But sometimes u need heat. I use. Kroil for few days before removal. Helps to free up krud