freeze-off freezing and penetrating stuck fastener remover? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 09:20:39 pm
content: So you combine wd40 and freeze spray.What do you think of this?Anyone try it?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 09:33:17 pm
content: I'd like to see Project Farm style independent testing of that. Until then - I call BS. Unless their freeze spray is somehow magically better than any other commonly available freeze spray, it won't do shit to shrink metal. It will not get anywhere close enough to do anything.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 09:35:41 pm
content: It's been my experience that heating makes the nut expand more than the bolt and facilitates removal. I don't know what effect cooling will have, but I suspect by itself, it will not help. It might help the wicking action and reduce evaporation to allow more time for penetration. Of course, heat makes the penetrating oil evaporate more rapidly. I have used heating, and adding Blaster during the cool down. Also overnight Blaster helps.When pressing out a bushing, heat helps even in the absence of corrosion.At great risk, let me cite StackExchange again:https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/90392/if-metal-expands-when-heated-how-does-heating-a-bolt-loosen-it

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 09:37:12 pm
content: Yes, blow torch is way more useful here. But that assumes that everything around is fine with the heat.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 10:05:19 pm
content: in complex systems its often not OK to use a blow torch.it has lubricant tooI might try it but I don't have regular occurance of stuck bolts. However if it works its more convenient then any other system, save for a expensive battery powered induction heater, and then you still need the oil spray.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 10:11:13 pm
content: You don't run a Quarter horse at the Belmont. Fit the process to the situation. For removing a small bolt in a large casting (i.e., heat sink) freezing might help. A small piece of dry ice would be cheaper. But for the situation pictured of a large bolt in a nut, I would be highly skeptical freezing will help, unless its effect is from slower evaporation of the solvent.CRC makes good products that i use routinely. That picture in the advertising was surely the creation of marketing people, not its developers.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 10:15:27 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on January 28, 2024, 09:35:41 pmthe temperature change with a blow torch is much higher, that freeze spray only drops the temperature to ~-25'C, so maybe 50'C difference from room temperature, a blowtorch can easily do ten times that

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2024, 10:52:51 pm
content: more details

author: JJ_023
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2024, 12:12:25 am
content: I have gotten paid to remove everything from rusted solid fasteners to carbide drills. I think this product might have some merit in certain situations especially for people that have limited tooling. The idea behind this is to create a quick enough thermal difference in the hopes of breaking some of the corrosion bonds inside the fastener.It would work in certain unique situations but it would never be my 1st go to methodology. Heat would always be my preferential go to in some of the applications that this product is designed for. In areas where a torch is not suitable due to the excess amount of heat that it presents my preferred method is utilizing a Tig welder set on low amperage. Works like a charm.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2024, 01:40:08 am
content: I would be a little worried running a tig welder on a EV lol