How to Remove Carriage Bolts

How to Remove Carriage Bolts

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Carriage bolts are extremely useful fasteners characterized by a smooth, rounded head. Sometimes this round head makes it slightly difficult to remove them. However, with a few simple steps, the carriage bolt will be removed in no time.

Continue reading for more details.

How to Remove a Carriage Bolt

Removing a carriage bolt is a reasonably straightforward task. By following the steps in this section, you will have it out quickly and easily.

Step 1: Collect Your Tools

For this job, you will need PPE equipment, clawhammer, a socket wrench, or an adjustable spanner. The socket wrench must have a socket that matches the size of the nut of the carriage bolt.

Step 2: Loosen the Nut

With the socket wrench or adjustable spanner, loosen the nut. Turning the nut anti-clockwise will start to undo it, keep turning until the nut is at the end of the thread. The square part of the neck should stop the head of the bolt from turning in the hole.

Step 3: Knock the Bolt Out

With the clawhammer, tap the end of the bolt where the nut is. You need to use enough force to move the head of the bolt away from the surface of the wood.

Step 4:  Remove the Nut and Washer

Now is the time to remove the nut and washer. If you want to reuse the carriage bolt, make sure to store the nut and washer safely.

Step 5: Take Out the Bolt

The last step is to tap the final bit of the bolt out with the hammer. Pull the remainder of the bolt through the material from the head side. If the bolt is stiff, you can use the claw side of the hammer to leverage the bolt out.

Removing Rusted Carriage Bolts: Tips & Tricks

The difference between a good and a bad tradesperson is the ability to work around common issues. Sometimes you will come across a bolt that is rusted in. While a rusted bolt can sometimes be frustrating, it doesn’t have to become a significant issue.

With some simple tips and tricks, removing rusted carriage bolts is simple.

1. Soak in WD-40

Soaking the bolt in WD-40 can often do the trick if you have time. With a can of WD-40, liberally spray the nut and thread. Give the WD-40 plenty of time to penetrate the rust. Some people will do this process over a few days, generously applying the WD-40 every few hours.

2. Leverage

If you can get the socket wrench or spanner over the nut, try extending the handle of your tool. For example, a hollow piece of pipe slotted over the handle will give you more leverage. This action exerts more pressure on the nut and you might loosen it.

3. Hit It

This tip might sound like it is borne from pure frustration, but there is logic to it. With a metal hammer, strike the nut and thread. The purpose is to dislodge some of the rust and debris within the thread causing the binding. Be careful not to damage the nut or the thread, but also make sure to use a strong force in the strikes.

4. Use Heat

Heating the metal in the nut and bolt will cause it to expand. The heat expansion will create enough movement to dislodge the rust enough for you to begin turning the nut on the thread. Consider a blowtorch or heat gun for this job. Be careful not to ignite any material around the bolt.

5. Grind Off the Nut

Cut the nut from the bolt with an angle grinder and a metal cutting disk. With the nut removed, simply pull the bolt out from the head side.

6. Drill Out the Head

With a large metal drill bit, drill through the head until you make contact with the neck of the bolt. Then break the head off from the neck. You can then tap the neck out the other side of the hole. Because the carriage bolt has a square neck, this approach might need a lot of force.

Removing Carriage Bolts That Keep Spinning: Tips & Tricks

A carriage bolt has a square section of neck, designed to stop the bolt from spinning while tightening and loosening it. Unfortunately, sometimes the square neck doesn’t correctly engage and the bolt turns. Below are some techniques to try if the carriage bolt keeps spinning.

1. Use Pliers

Grip the head with a pair of pliers and stop it spinning while the nut gets either tightened or loosened.

2. Cut a Groove

With either a hacksaw or a Dremel, cut a line in the head of the bolt. The cut must be deep enough for a flathead screwdriver not to slip out. Use the flat head screwdriver to hold the bolt in position while tightening or loosening the nut.

3. Clamp the Head

Use two strong clamps to hold the bolt’s head tightly against the material’s surface. With a large amount of pressure exerted down onto the bolt head, it might not spin as freely. Make sure you still have access to the nut.

Mistakes to Avoid

There are common mistakes that people often make when removing carriage bolts. If you are struggling to get a carriage bolt out, double-check that you’re not doing any of these.

1. Turn Anti-Clockwise

People use a very common phrase to remember how to turn a bolt or screw: righty tighty, lefty loosey. However, from time to time everyone gets this wrong. Make sure you turn the bolt in the correct, anti-clockwise direction to loosen it.

2. Use the Correct Sized Tools

If you have a socket wrench or spanner that doesn’t exactly match the nut’s size, you might encounter difficulties. A socket or spanner that is too small won’t fit over the nut to loosen it. A socket or spanner that is only just too big will ‘round’ the nut off. A rounded nut is tough to get a purchase on and is even more challenging to remove.

Summary

Removing a carriage bolt can be very straightforward if everything goes to plan. If some issues arise, then the process can become long and annoying.

If you come across an issue, take a moment to assess if the nut is rusted or damaged. Start with some of the simplest tricks, before drilling or cutting into the bolt. If the bolt still doesn’t come out, move on to cutting or drilling the bolt out.