Heat. For years it’s been a mainstay in the mechanic’s repertoire for unsticking stuck things. From rusted nuts and bolts to pieces that once slipped smoothly together, there isn’t much a torch can’t fix. There are, unfortunately, a lot of things a torch can burn to a crisp. Trying to protect those things while directing a blazing torch can be a challenge—I’d be lying if I said I never set anything alight using a torch.
Not long ago, I was trying to replace rubber body mounts on my truck and encountered multiple frozen body mount bolts. Using a torch to heat up those bolts enough to get them free was near impossible without setting the rubber bushings on fire. Referring to YouTube, to see if there were any tricks to completing this job, I found someone using an induction heater to get the bolts free. I had seen these devices before, but not in a handheld version.
Some quick research revealed that they were available on Amazon, weren’t all that expensive, and could arrive as soon as the next day. There were a bunch of options to chose from and they all looked basically the same, although at varying prices. I settled on the 1000-watt Solary Magnetic Induction Heater Kit for $180. It was also available with a case and a selection of different sized coils for $216.
I also found a more expensive version of the same type of tool, the 1800-watt Bolt Buster. By the specs, the Bolt Buster has a lot more power than the model I got, and If I was still working as a mechanic, I would have chosen it instead. But, judging by the reviews it seemed like the Solary Induction Heater would work for what I was doing—and, because it would arrive the next day, I could finish the job and use my truck.
How Induction Heaters Work
A high frequency, alternating current (AC) is passed through a coil to create an electromagnetic field. Eddy currents occur in an item placed within the field, or coil, provided they are comprised of electrically conductive materials. The friction generated by these eddy currents provides focused, non-contact heating.
For my project, the Solary Magnetic Induction Heater kit I ordered, worked as described. I was able to heat and remove the stubborn body mount bolts on my truck relatively easily. It did take a little longer than the 30 seconds advertised, but they were large bolts, and they heated up enough to break loose. Since then I’ve used it a couple times, testing it on various sized rusty nuts and bolts—and it’s really kind of surprising how well it actually works. The best thing is that I don’t need to use a torch around things that it could cause problems, like wiring harnesses, fuel tanks, or brake lines. While it’s not a tool you’ll likely use every day, it is one that can get you out of a bind with seized hardware.
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
