Kimball Midwest Blog

How to Remove a Stuck Fastener

Written by Kimball Midwest | August 20, 2019
You’re working on a job that has a tight deadline. Wait, isn’t that every job? You hit the most annoying roadblock of all – a stuck fastener. A stuck nut or bolt can hinder your job in more ways than one.

First, it throws you off-schedule. With all the time you spend trying to get the stuck fastener out, you could’ve finished the job and moved on to a new one. It has started affecting your timeline and your bottom line.

Second, depending on if the head broke off or how badly the fastener is stuck, now you’re down a part. Maybe you didn’t account for that in this week’s order, maybe you did. Either way, it’s something that wasn’t entirely expected and could now affect your inventory.

Third, sometimes it’s a fix that you don’t know how to do so you need to enlist other members of your team to help you out. The stuck fastener has now not only slowed the timeline of your own job, but others as well.

You are more likely to prevent a stuck fastener in the first place with a high-quality product like the KM-USA High Head Grade 8 Fastening System. It has a 20% higher head, allowing for a more reliable grip. Other features, such as the precision rolled threads, a 30° chamfered point and high-strength chromium alloy steel construction, ensure superior strength and ease of assembly. Check out our video spotlight to see our new grade 8 bolt stretch and break a grade 5 bolt.

We’re here to help make sure you’re armed with the knowledge to get that fastener loose and move on with your job as quickly as possible.

The video below details three ways to solve your problem:
  1. Penetrating Oil or Foaming Gel Extended Contact Penetrating Oil + Wrench and Socket + possible Tool Extender
  2. Induction Heat Tool + Extractor
  3. Left Handed Drill Bit + Extractor
Click play to see those solutions in detail, and, if you're interested in the products you see in the video, .