How to remove a cross threaded Allen bolt

Rileybaby

I have purchased a bar stool which is slanted. It's joined on to the base with 3 bolts (Allen key type). I have been able to remove 1 bolt but the other 2 appear to have been mis-aligned. I'm struggling to remove them. Does anyone have any idea how to removed them?

sillygoose

Rileybaby wrote: »

I have purchased a bar stool which is slanted. It's joined on to the base with 3 bolts (Allen key type). I have been able to remove 1 bolt but the other 2 appear to have been mis-aligned. I'm struggling to remove them. Does anyone have any idea how to removed them?

They are probably metric sized and if you can get hold of a set of imperial size you may find one of those now fits as they tend to be inbetween metric sizes, but if they are too tight they will probably just round more.

Probably easiest to get a suitable metal drill and a fast (mains powered) drill and drill the head off, then you can try and unscrew the threaded part that is left with something (like WD40 and a vice) you then need to get new bolts. Bolts are probably cheap Chinese steel and will drill off easy.

getmore4less

Impact driver if the heads are still OK
dose of penetrating oil first

27cool

You could try extending the Allen key with a small tube spanner for more leverage.