Removing rusty bolts with propane

[2cool2hear]

Has anyone used propane torch to get stuck bolts out? You know, the typical handheld can thing.

I'm at a friend's, and we're trying to get bolts out of the exhaust's flange. Rust penetrating spray isn't doing the job. The truck is being worked on so we can't drive it over to my place where my welding toys are. Experiences/suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks

 

[zkdiesel]

Drag your oxy acy torch to him or get a map gas bottle
Your hand held prone is useless. You need to heat the nut up faster than the Bolt to provide expansion you need and the propane isn't hot enough

 

[dtt454]

yeah your wasting your time with propane, ive never had much luck with mapp either.

i have had luck once using an air hammer to rattle the nut around.... . if you have that option.

 

[2cool2hear]

Will it do any good to bang them with hammer?

 

[Dustin Echoes]

We've all been desperate enough to try before, I can't see it hurting anything. Give it a go, what's the worst that could happen?

 

[jethro29]

hand held is a total waste of time.trust me.

 

[kylefitz]

mapp gas. heat then quench (spray/cool) with atf thinned with acetone. worked like a charm for me on rusty exhaust bolts before.

 

[slip knot]

Propane is like peeing into the wind. It wont help and will just make you mad and tired. Go get some real heat. O/A is the way to go here.

 

[G_P]

Is this a bolt with a nut going through a flange? if so put a breaker bar on it and snap the bolt off. Not worth wasting time with rusty exhaust bolts if you can just replace them.

 

[ssentt]

mapp gas. heat then quench (spray/cool) with atf thinned with acetone. worked like a charm for me on rusty exhaust bolts before.

^^^^ This.......except I use liquid wrench and spray around the threads or the head of bolt. The heat will wick the fluid right down into and around the threads and help loosen.

 

[Haveblue]

It MAY work.it is worth a try , as I have done it a few times. I have been surprised how well it has worked in some situations... When others said it it would not heat enough. Impacts, torches, and air hammers help you out of jams!

 

[MScott]

I just finished using a torch with MAP gas to free up the 1 1/16" wheel nuts on my old Ford tractor. No way I could budge them with a Johnson bar and a 4' pipe extension, but I was able to get them hot enough to pop them off. Certainly not as good as an OA torch, but worth a try.

 

[Angelfire]

Considering MAPP gas isn't made anymore, you're probably limited to OA for the heat you want unless you are fortunate to have some already or stumble on old stock (highly unlikely).

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Is this a bolt with a nut going through a flange? if so put a breaker bar on it and snap the bolt off. Not worth wasting time with rusty exhaust bolts if you can just replace them.

I've done this multiple times. Break and replace.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Considering MAPP gas isn't made anymore, you're probably limited to OA for the heat you want unless you are fortunate to have some already or stumble on old stock (highly unlikely).

TRUE !!

From Wikipedia

In the spring of 2008, true MAPP gas production ended in North America when production was discontinued at the only remaining plant making it. Current products labeled "MAPP" are in fact MAPP substitutes. These versions are stabilized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with high levels of propylene.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I've used the yellow bottles with much success. For me its more handy than dragging out hoses and dealing with the torch handle, lighting it, adjusting knobs on and off.
My little hand held mapp bottle has a trigger for on and off and when I'm done I just set the bottle on the floor and concentrate on the fastener without dropping a torch handle and having hoses in the way.
It won't heat up near as much as oxy/acet or work as fast, but I'm working in my garage and not a production environment.

 

[n8n]

sometimes it works, but anymore a propane torch is pretty useless. He should be using MAPP anyway even for residential plumbing, the new lead free solder is hard to work with with propane unlike the old school stuff.

You could also try drawing some candle wax in the threads with the bolt hot, I've used that trick with success. Vibration/shock helps too.

 

[Lippyp]

Do people use oxy-propane over there? It's becoming much more common over here as propane is cheaper than acetylene and also a loty of insurance companies don't like people having acetylene bottles in a domestic garage these days over here. I know you can use oxy propane to heat and cut, not sure if you can weld with it though. I have a 47KG propane cylinder and I'm considering adding an oxygen tank to it and buying a torch setup primarily for heating stuff either to free it off or for bending ****.

 

[zkdiesel]

Do people use oxy-propane over there? It's becoming much more common over here as propane is cheaper than acetylene and also a loty of insurance companies don't like people having acetylene bottles in a domestic garage these days over here. I know you can use oxy propane to heat and cut, not sure if you can weld with it though. I have a 47KG propane cylinder and I'm considering adding an oxygen tank to it and buying a torch setup primarily for heating stuff either to free it off or for bending ****.

Most places run oxy acy for shop Abd repair work
Junk yards and steel places over here run propane instead
I've used both, prefer the acy for ease of use and cuts easier than oxy propane.

 

[404]

Do people use oxy-propane over there? It's becoming much more common over here as propane is cheaper than acetylene and also a loty of insurance companies don't like people having acetylene bottles in a domestic garage these days over here. I know you can use oxy propane to heat and cut, not sure if you can weld with it though. I have a 47KG propane cylinder and I'm considering adding an oxygen tank to it and buying a torch setup primarily for heating stuff either to free it off or for bending ****.

A few do but mostly we are conditioned to think of acetylene with oxygen. Not all acetylene hoses are considered compatible with propane, then we have to find and make up the fittings, etc.

For removing rusty bolts in a manifold, my best luck has been heating them up orange hot and then apply water with a hose as a solid stream not a spray. Doing that several times seems to make the bolts shrink in their holes.. dunno why. But after the treatment they were not even tight.

Regards,
404

 

[Throbbin Rods]

In a pinch one day two hours from home I used a small butane torch. Piezo-electric lighting, it puts out some heat. Don't skimp, get a good one

 

[theoldwizard1]

Oxy-acetylene is most commonly used because it puts out a lot of heat FAST ! Acetylene without oxygen is still hotter than propane and is commonly used by plumbers and HVAC for brazing.

Old school trick that should work with propane WAX !

Removing broken exhaust studs

 

[Jvvmusme]

50% acetone
50% ATF

And pray

 

[Jere]

I live in the rust belt and on older cars you have two choices snap the bolt or use heat. I use propane in the blue plumbers bottles. I have oxy/propane/acetylene but that is too much heat, like melting the bolts or shearing threads heat (works great oxy/ace is great for welding tho and oxy/propane for cutting).

My process to get stuck bolts out is acetone/vegetable oil mix squirted on and soaked. Then propane heat, the bigger the bolt the more time. Next test to see if the bolt is loosened enough to turn let the heat do most of the work. If not more heat, expect 10 minutes on bigger suspension bolts with respray breaks. You might get some smoke or quick flare ups so stay away from fuel lines, and keep fire safety stuff around and good ventilation.

 

[Jswain]

I use a propane handheld torch all the time on my truck(its from PEI, so as rusty as they get) and it works like a charm 95% of the time. Let it run on the nut for about ten minutes full blast, then hit it with lube of your choice and let the propane run again for another 5, lube and take the nut off. Certainly not fast but if you are in need of saving the hardware it is well worth it. If it is a through bolt/nut then I would just cut/replace.

 

[dladcock]

For what it's worth, I've used this formula for years and will continue to do so until something better comes along.

1 quart charcoal starter fluid, 1 quart WD-40, 1 quart Marvel Mystery Oil mixed together, dispensed from a spray bottle or squeeze bottle. Either a propane or Mapp hand held to WARM the offensive nut.

Most of the time I apply a small amount of fluid and then apply enough heat to warm slightly hotter than a 3 count. By 3 count I mean how long I can hold onto the part. More heat than that doesn't really seem to gain anything. 1000-1, 1000-2, 1000-3. Then quench.

The starter fluid will penetrate the thread gap, after all, that's what it's designed to do. The MMO and WD-40 break down oxidation and lubricate the threads.

If I sold this formula and it didn't work, I'd give you your money back.

BTW, yes it is flammable, no more than any other penetrate fluid, so care should be taken when using.

dla

 

[garboui]

Is this a bolt with a nut going through a flange? if so put a breaker bar on it and snap the bolt off. Not worth wasting time with rusty exhaust bolts if you can just replace them.

This, it's not worth reusing an exhaust bolt. Just break it or cut it out and replace it. You can replace it with a ****** low grade bolt from home depot even. It's just more worth the time to **** with.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I've used a propane torch to loosen quite a few nuts/bolts. It does take some time but it's worked every time I've needed to use it.

-Brian

 

[ManCave]

Sorry guys, but those of you saying a propane torch is useless are wrong. You have to know the trick!

What you do is heat it up with the propane torch and then spray it with penetrating oil while its hot. The heat further thins the oil and through capillary action ***** the oil into the threads. At least that's my theory on why it works. But regardless, it works tremendously better than either heat or oil alone. And a propane torch will get it plenty hot for it to work.