A stripped bolt is an essential tool for almost all wrenching projects happening out there.
It is also quite humorous that a tool that was made to ease the project often becomes a monotonous tool with long hours that go into your driveway in anger.
In the eyes of your pals, if you can defeat this stripped bolt, not only half, the battle is done, but also you become a champion in their eyes.
Patience and practice are the key to it and certain tools which assist in this process.
How can one remove the stripped triple square bolt?
There are two ways to do it as below or combine them for optimal success –
- Use a Penetrating fluid – This can be a great strategy, and branded fluids like that of P.B. Blaster can be the best bet here.
- Their design is such to break down any rust or grime that can lock a nut/ bolt in the place.
- Spray the area with lots of rust with this fluid and let it soak for some time
- This will solve your problem and will break all the bonded areas.
Another way of doing it the right way
- Screw-in and out the way – This is a great technique as well where one can use the repetitive action for taking out the bolt
- If one can move the bolt a few distances before beginning any attempt to strip the bolt, you are on the right way.
- For doing it, screw it inside and outside a couple of times, and it should break the bolt free.
- Don’t forget to use in some good amount the penetrating fluid above.
Stripped bolt and the basics of removing it
Well, it is a bolt that has a rounded head which no one knows the reason behind but is most probably due to misuse.
- It has some round edges, few sockets, and this makes even wrenches difficult to hold it.
- This helps the bolt to gain any leverage and turn it on.
- The stripped bolts get created by rust or the cross threads in the bolt.
- This can also take place if an individual uses the wrong wrench size on the bolt.
Safety and some basics of removing the bolt
As per a famous humor pun, the total time that one needs for removing the bolt is 10 minutes to a full lifetime!
Stripped bolt is a difficult game as it bonded very strongly due to lots of corrosion on its surface.
So, lubricating is the first and then using different methods to take it out.
For safety purposes, especially when doing this on your automobile, use proper protocols.
No one wants to get messy or have a full bolt hitting the eyes, so ensure you have a full hold on this thing.
Buying a set of safety glasses and mechanic gloves can be a good option.
Tools checklist for removal of a stripped bolt
One might need the tools below or might not need any of those at all –
- A solid and good quality penetrating fluid
- Pair of Locking pliers
- Socket set normal
- An Extraction socket set
- A Blowtorch
- A significant and ready to take the bolt with Bolt extractor kit
- The cutting tool like Dremel
- A Flathead screwdriver
- A Drill
Organizing all the tools is critical, and don’t forget for some other crucial factors like a flat working space which might be a garage floor.
Or even a driveway or some street parking which also has good ventilation.
P.S. – However, do obey your local laws and do not violate any code while using the street.
Some recommended items:
- TOMMARS Impact Bolt & Nut Remover Set – $24.99 to $25.63 – 13 + 2 pieces set, Lug Nut remover tool with an ultra-wide storage space.
A case for removing any damage/ rusted/ rounded bolts and nuts.
The make is made of 40Cr-MO chromium-molybdenum steel,
which is way harder than Cr-V Alloy.
All sockets come in a very heavy-duty blow molding shell.
- XEWEA Screw & Bolt Extractor Set and Drill Bit Kit – $39.99 to $40.83 – 26 pieces and a socket set for keeping any kind of damaged or round-off bolts.
Comes with a reverse spiral groove design for an additional grip.
This extraction kit is a special 3-in-1 screw and nut removal kit and is very useful for a wide variety of applications.
- Liquid Wrench L116 Penetrating Oil – 16 oz. – $7.99 to $107.12 for a 12 bottle set – Local and a family-owned company with 75+ years of history.
It helps to free the stripped nuts and bolts.
A powerful formula that can cut through the rust and cuts.
Low odor and 0% VOC formula and is safe on most of the painted surface as well.
Some other questions,
Related Questions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1.) How to remove a stripped bolt without using the drill?
Answer: An interesting way is to use the common household rubber bands.
Begin by placing the rubber band on the screw’s head and inserting your screwdriver into it.
Now, turn it clockwise, and this will remove the stripped screw.
Q2.) What are some tools that one recommends for removing the stripped bolt?
Answer: Locking Pliers are a good option as they hold the bolt easily and are a must-have garage tool.
Blowtorch and a Dremel tool are some other good options who can do the same job easily.
Q3.) How to remove the rusted bolt whose head is not there?
Answer: Cut through the bolt across a few angles and then use a chisel and hammer to reduce some pressure.
Lastly, take them out as the reduction in pressure will be an amazing hack.
Q4.) What is the right thing to spray on the bolts to loosen them?
Answer: Use a typical bolt loosening spray to remove the rust.
A good example is WD-40 penetrant spray, as this oil provides one of the best and deep lubrication to loosen it.
Q5.) How to loosen the bolt with a WD-40?
Answer: Pour some vinegar or some baking soda right on the screw and wait for some time.
Next, tap it gently with a hammer a few times and wait for some time.
Q6.) How to remove an already stuck hex screw?
Answer: Do the steps as follow –
- Cut some slots which are large enough and can accommodate the screwdriver tip in the screw head
- Then, put the screwdriver in the same slot above
- Using a hammer, tap it lightly but in the opposite direction
- This will solve your problem
Q7.) Can we run an engine with a broken head bolt?
Answer: No
More often, the bolt will back out each time a drill turns.
And if the head bolt is causing an issue, the engine will not run properly due to less torque.
Q8.) How to get to the nuts which are on the bad threads?
Answer: One should use a rethreading tap for the restoration of nuts or component holes.
Remember not to rethread the entire bolt or nut at one go and rather insert the tap or rotate it a few times.
Q9.) How to remove the rounded bolt which is stuck in a tight space?
Answer: One quick and easy way is to wedge down a small screwdriver/ flat blade right between the parts of the bolt or nut.
Then apply some pressure on pushing the bolt to its outside and unthread it quickly.
Q10.) What is the right way of unscrewing a tight screw without a screwdriver?
Answer: Knife’s tip, use it to the head of a screw or use a metal nail file to the head.
Small scissors and tweezers work similarly.
Q11.) Does the wd40 help in loosening screws?
Answer: Begin by spraying the system with WD-40 Penetrant spray and then leave it for 15 minutes.
And the evens stronger WD40 specialist spray loosens the bolts so much that one can open with just his hands.
Q12.) Can W.D. loosen the rusted bolts as well?
Answer: If one has a bolt that is so much rust that you can’t even budge it properly, use WD-40 in that situation, and the multi-use products will do their duty very well.
Q13.) Is there any alternative to WD-40?
Answer: No, not as perfect, but some other lubricants are petroleum jellies, silicone product lines, or made DIY with home cooking oils blend.
Q14.) How to remove the hex screw without a screwdriver?
Answer: Use some nuts and add them to the threaded end and lock them strongly.
Place the head of the bolt right into the hex bolt head and use a simple spanner to turn the bolt and spin them.
Q15.) How to fix a stripped bolt?
Answer: Use a coil-type thread insert for this.
These inserts are best for this job, and repair them with a new thread.
Use a drill for those damaged holes and make them slightly bigger.
Q16.) What can happen if one breaks the head bolt?
Answer: Engine issues.
The head bolt can cause torque issues and even mix coolant and water due to fault.
So, repair it soon
Final Verdict
A stripped bolt is a rounded bolt with a weird design, and which becomes rusted with time.
Such a bolt becomes a nightmare for many as they try many different tricks to get rid of such an issue.
Some individuals mess up completely and create more problems than solving this one.
As the famous pun says, removing stripped bolts only takes ten minutes or your lifetime!
True enough; however, there are some ways of correcting this.
One of the ways is to use a penetrating fluid such as that from WD-40, which removes the corrosion and lubricates it deeply that one removes it with a hand.
Other methods are by using tools that can be very sophisticated or very simple as well.
Safety is paramount whenever dealing and buying a safety kit is important.
Use proper way and get rid of that nasty stripped bolt today!
Thanks For Reading!