Rusty nuts...and bolts

Question

Whats the best thing to use to loosen rusty nuts and bolts. My knuckles are smashed to pieces trying to free these little @astards of my truck. Does anything actually work. WD40 is c**p there must be something better out there that works.

cheers

Answer 1

Hi,

It might be a wild stab in the dark here ?

I used to work with pumps and we used washing up liquid on rusty nuts

also we used to give them a tap on the heads with a hammer or if the nuts are big enough ...  on one side face

We bought some all singing all dancing WD40 type spray from a specialist...  it was very good stuff    ÃƒÂ‚£70 a tin ten years ago

WHAT WAS INSIDE ?

A SOAPY WATERY SOLUTION .....

Just a thought  

Answer 2

If you're in the UK try 'Irwin Bolt Grippers', they're good for rusted, painted and rounded off nuts and bolts. They're specially shaped sockets that grip better than normal spanners/wrenches/sockets. If you're in the US there are other products  that do the same thing though not sure if they work or not, 'Grip-tite' is one such product.

Answer 3

If you can get to the nuts and there isn't a fire danger, use a small torch to heat the nut.  It will swell, breaking the hold of the rust, and even if you wait until it is cool, it will come off much easier.  Or, a manual nut splitter available from a tool supplier will work on sizes up to about 7/8" and you can get hydraulic models for up to six inch nuts.

For most cap screws about the only choice you have is one of the penetrating oils.