How to Remove a Rusted Carriage Bolt That Spins
Smooth, round head. Nothing to grab. It knows exactly what it is doing.
Carriage bolts rely on the square neck biting into wood. Once that hole wallows out, the bolt spins with the nut. Hold the head or cut the bolt.
Step by Step
- 1
Soak the nut
Spray the nut and exposed threads and wait 15–30 minutes.
- 2
Pull the head tight
Pry under the head with a flat bar or screwdriver while turning the nut. The pressure can re-seat the square neck.
- 3
Give the head something to grip
Grip the dome with locking pliers, or cut a slot across it with a cutoff wheel and hold it with a large flat screwdriver.
- 4
Cut it
Split the nut with a nut splitter or cut the bolt with a reciprocating saw or grinder.
Heat on the nut can help on a metal assembly. In wood, decks or fences, skip the torch.
- Eye protection when cutting or grinding.
Which Penetrant, and Why
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Common Mistakes
Running the nut faster with an impact. It just spins faster.