It is undoubtedly frustrating to attempt to loosen a screw or bolt only to find out its too rusty and tight to remove. When the screw is too tight, and it cant be loosened normally, you need other tricks than just a screwdriver and brute force. So lets get on with learning how to remove rusted screws and bolts!
Removing a Difficult Rusted Screw or Bolt
First, if the screw is very hard, the ideal thing to do is to grab cola drink and apply it in the area where the screw is screwed to the material. Whether wood, metal or concrete several times in a day, use this gas and let the metal absorb it for 12 hours. Then try to remove it, it is very likely to come out without problems.
Pull out the Screw with force
If the screwdriver still does not come out, it is ideal to put the screwdriver well and hammer it with small taps. It might be the vibrations of the blow that will remove it from the material where it is stuck. Try unscrewing the screw again to see if it loosened.
Use a Deoxidizer to remove the rusted Screw
Still no loosening? It is time for us to attack with heavy weaponry. What you need to remove these rusted screws is a good Penetrating Oil, read our guide on the best penetrating oil. These oils are excellent at loosening rusted screws. Apply it in the contact area between the screw and the material. Let it act for half an hour.
If it does not work, we have little left to do, and that is to heat the screw.
Heating - A More aggressive method of removing a Rusted Screw
This method is a little more radical and consists of removing the material around the screw, this damages quite a lot the area but is the definitive way to remove a rusty screw.
You need a torch, if you do not have one (it's not very common that there are torches in a house), you can try the flame of a candle for about 10 minutes. The heat dilates the metals which will cause the screw to inflate and detach from the material to which it is attached.
If it is still stuck, don't give up! There is only one play left to make. It consists of heating the screw for 10 minutes and then put a lot of ice on the area. The expansion by heat and subsequent compression of the materials will make a change in the structure by loosening the screw.
