It's not a new idea. In Europe, especially in France, the replacement of old bolts is seen as so essential to the sport that people are paid to do it. Ours is a volunteer effort, a non-profit enterprise dedicated to making climbing safer and encouraging other climbers to do the same. Before getting well into this effort I had heard rumors that it wasn't possible to re-use old holes. That s not true.
Most climbers cringe when they clip into a rusty quarter incher and with good reason.
They know that these bolts were weak to begin with and over time have become even weaker. Yet what most people don't know is that replacing them is a simple process. For stubborn bolts alternate positions with the crowbar to avoid bending the bolt in one direction. This weakens the head of the bolt and will eventually cause the bolt to shear. Instead of bouncing, plant your feet on the wall and pull harder or get two people pulling on the crowbar.