(If you go to an auto parts store, you'll find a variety to choose from in spray cans or bottles (Blaster, WD-40, Liquid Wrench, etc.). If you try to back the bolt or nut out with a wrench, the wrench won't grip the hex head, making it difficult (if not impossible) to remove. The rust can freeze the bolt in place or degrade the shape of the bolt head or the nut holding the bolt. The nuts securing carriage bolts can rust, too, making it impossible to remove them. The heads on machine bolts can get oxidized to the point where you can't tell they're there. Rusty bolts are a common sight, especially for those who spend their working days outdoors. At some point in a do-it-yourselfer's career, you will find yourself staring at a bolt whose head or nut is rusted in place, rounded off, or, in the worst-case scenario, the bolt itself is broken off below the surface.īut wait! Before launching your wrench into the neighbor's bushes, there are ways to remove that stripped or broken bolt.
You could be working on an old lawn mower, a washing machine, or maybe you've begun restoring a classic little red wagon.
