3 Ways to Remove a Rounded Bolt

If you’re an avid DIY-er or construction enthusiast, you’ll know the annoyance of finding a rounded off bolt. A job that once seemed so easy and straightforward instantly becomes more complicated when you now need to work out how to get this fixing off. Not only does this extend the time you had planned for said job, but it also increases the risk of injury and can bring your project to a grounding halt instantly. Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can get around this hurdle and we’ll be looking at 3 of the most promising ways to remove a rounded bolt in today’s blog post.

Use a bolt extractor

Screw and bolt extractors are designed specifically for this job. They allow you to remove these fixings easily without damaging any existing hole threads. To do this, these kits come with a carbon fibre extractor that drills down into the broken bolt insert. Once it bites on the inside of the bolt, it can then be wound out, removing the bolt or screw with ease. The Blue Spot Damaged Screw Bolt Easy Out Extractor Set also comes with a square end that can be used with a tap wrench if you need to improve stability during the removal.

Impact force

If your bolt has seized, one of the quickest and most efficient ways to remove it is by brute force and impact. We recommend using WD-40 or a similar lubricant to help loosen up the bolt. Place the chisel on the heat of the bolt and use a strong impact to hit it. If this doesn’t work, you could opt for an impact wrench or gun which should free up the corrosion bond between threads using vibration.

Relief cuts

If you have a metal-cutting tool on hand, another way to remove a rounded bolt is by making relief cuts in the heat. 2 or 3 cuts through the bolt head will make it easier to release the bond on the threads. You may need to use impact force too as a way of breaking the tension and nudging the bolt out of its setting.

Rounded bolts can be extremely annoying - especially when you’re working to a strict time frame. However, with the tips we’ve listed above, you should have no problem finding a way to remove the fixing and continuing on with the project at hand. Here at Sealant & Tools Direct, we have worked with thousands of customers over the years to make their DIY or construction projects run smoothly. So, if you have any questions about bolt removal or would like to speak to a member of our team, please get in contact here today.