Rremove damaged screw and bolt

Kido250

My mother has an old metal and wood bench chair in the garden which she loves. I'm trying to replace the rotten slats without damanging the metal. I'm having problems as the screws have been painted over and damaged so they won't come out. I've tried getting the nuts off the back of the screws with the wrench but all that's happening is once the nuts are loosened the screws are going round with the nut so they're not unscrewing. Can anyone advise me how I can get them out. I've tried cutting the bolts with a dremel but it's very slow going. I do have an angle grinder (but I doubt there's room to use it safely) and a multitool but don't know if there's a better way. I've also tried to put a screwdriver in the screw to stop it moving but again it's not worked. Thanks for any help.

Andy_L

Would a nut splitter get in there?


https://www.toolstation.com/nut-splitter-set/p80007

grumbler

Also, with the right drill bit you can drill though the screw head to remove the head completely.

It has to be an HSS drill bit with about the same diameter as the screw thread.

Bendy_House

Hi Kido.

Do you have a drill and bits?

Clamp the nuts so's they don't move - eg, slip on the spanner, and then tie the spanner against a slat to hold it in place, or even hold the spanner if you can reach round - and then drill down the middle of the screwhead using a size that's the same - or slightly larger - than the thread diameter. Once the drill goes through the head, it'll fall off (and probably spin on the bit!)

This is a lot easier if it's a pozidrive screw head cos' that will centre the drill bit for you. Start with gentle pressure to allow the bit to make a V without biting too much into the Xs (I know what I mean...)

Look on t'Bay for SS replacements so you'll never have this problem again!

Kido250

Thanks for the advise. Will try that. Forgive my ignorance but what’s a SS replacement?

FreeBear

Bendy_House said: Look on t'Bay for SS replacements so you'll never have this problem again!

One wee problem with Stainless Steel - If the threads are not absolutely perfect, they can "gall" as you tighten them up. A tiny dab of oil or grease should help to prevent the problem.

Bendy_House

Kido250 said:

Thanks for the advise. Will try that. Forgive my ignorance but what’s a SS replacement?

Sorry, Stainless Steel - non rusting.

GDB2222

Forgive me but there’s a much easier way. Chop out the old rotten slats with a chisel. Then you will be left with just the old rusty nuts and bolts. Cut those with a hacksaw.  Or just grip them with locking pliers and twist, and they will probably simply snap.

Bendy_House

GDB2222 said:

Forgive me but there’s a much easier way. Chop out the old rotten slats with a chisel. Then you will be left with just the old rusty nuts and bolts. Cut those with a hacksaw.  Or just grip them with locking pliers and twist, and they will probably simply snap.

D'oh! I missed the point that Kido wanted to remove and discard these slats! Smash 'em up

greenface2

should be able to whizz the heads off with a grinder and metal disc

Kido250

Thanks for your help guys. Managed to get all the bolts cut off with the Dremel very easily. Turns out I’d been trying to cut them with one of my wood discs (I’m not normally that dozy, I’m going to blame the heat). Got the ones I could off neatly so I could cut the replacement slats to size, the rest I cut in half with the power saw then broke them free and used the Dremel to cut through the bolts. Easy.