In cases involving hardened steel, applying heat can actually break down the hardening properties. If one overheats metal to a molten glow, they can damage or destroy the nut, bolt and any other adjacent parts. Using an open flame in an unventilated, confined space can create a dangerous atmosphere due to toxic gasses, carbon monoxide and/or oxygen depletion. It’s not easy to carry heat generating equipment along with all the tools required for a given job this can be especially cumbersome when multiple locations are involved. In these instances, heat-generating equipment or open flames may be nearly impossible to apply properly and safely. Many times, equipment is either high above ground, underground or in tight spaces. Not everything you want to take apart is at ground level or on a work bench. Working near flammable materials and/or chemicals is even more dangerous. When working with heat or an open flame, workers run the risk of burning themselves, someone else or adjacent materials. Without the proper technique, many challenges can result, including: While using heat can be effective, there are many risks, and executing this process requires great skill. Drilling, grinding and cutting also present potential physical hazards to personnel and the surrounding equipment. For example, the part to be loosened may be damaged or destroyed beyond repair, requiring replacement (if, that is, a replacement part can be found in time or at all). There are many different methods for freeing stuck parts including drilling, grinding or cutting the part. A nut or bolt needs to be loosened, a frozen key must be removed, a seized clamp has to be opened or a set screw just won’t budge. When critical components in an assembly rust, disassembly can become difficult.
Many things can cause metal parts to seize up, including chemicals, corrosion, paint, environmental factors and over-tightening but rust is the biggest culprit. One of the many things Benjamin Franklin is known for is his quote from 1789: “Nothing is certain, except death and taxes.” If he was alive today, he would likely modify his quote to include: “Another certainty: metal rusts.” Rust is the kryptonite that affects all exposed metal there is no escaping it.
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