What To Do When Your Nuts Get Rusty

[@theroyaltyautoservice]

Thanks for the shout out Eric! Great video! We do have a torch. Maybe we will bust it out and see how rusty the Professor is with it. Pun intended. 😅

[@SouthMainAuto]

Free tip for you. You can use your blow nozzle to get the dust off from it just in case it's been sitting in the corner too long 😉 I envy your rust-free cars. I can't even imagine what it's like 🤯

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

​@@SouthMainAuto needs to be a guest at The Royalty Auto Service!!

[@draeger4652]

@@SouthMainAuto first 15 years of my career in Connecticut, first week in South Carolina, took bolts out of a hub on a land rover, it fell to the floor before I could catch it. Never work on cars up north again 😄

[@dnlmachine4287]

Royalty you guys do great work and video quality is top shelf. thanks. Stay gold.

[@natepeterson7145]

​@@draeger4652where at just moved from Illinois to Greenville area.

[@rbailey225]

I've heard you say what kind of people watch these videos.......Let me tell you. People with intense curiosity and a thirst for automotive knowledge. Watching you over the years has saved my bacon and kept me calm when things didn't go exactly to plan on more than one occasion. So, thanks for that Mr.O. Not to mention since 2019 I haven't worked much due to two shoulder and two hand surgeries. So it's a double whammy.....you save me from going out of my mind with boredom as well. I hardly ever watch TV unless it's with Mrs. B to watch one of her favorite shows, everything else is the youtubes as meemaw calls it. LOL!

[@grantwilliamson9918]

What a show off! Thanks for the tip!

[@workingcountry1776]

As a former Central NY tech I learned years ago that they can't be tight if they are liquid!

[@jamescaron6465]

I have to say you’re a friggin surgeon with that torch. It’s damn near a precision instrument in your hands.

[@turboturtle9083]

A lot of people don't subscribe to the thermal wrench these days but it's a time tested tool of the trade.

[@wadepatton2433]

It's the original rust buster and time saver.

[@pudermcgavin4462]

In my area we call it the chevy wrench

[@mattmanyam]

"Blue Wrench"

[@donniev8181]

The old one sided slitter, classic!

[@newjerseybill3521]

Thanks for the "Introduction to rusty nuts 101" course!! :)

[@RustyZipper]

Rusty Nuts 🤣

[@waynemontgomery8484]

I'm an old retired mechanic ,and never miss your videos

[@ejwxb2561]

torch surgeon - impressive!

[@rbailey225]

"It's quite pungent.......stings the nostrils." Ron Burgundy-2004

[@SouthMainAuto]

You stay classy 😉

[@jmaxim80]

Nice

[@kenmohler4081]

My mommy used to put polish on my nails too. But it was 1951 and KZbin wasn’t really an issue. 😂

[@kirbyschneider4187]

You know you’ve been watching way too much SMA when say out loud to your phone “enhance” expecting it to enlarge! Lol. You’ll get odd looks from people around as well! Thx Mr. O!

[@davidnull5590]

In a a future video maybe Eric O. can explain why this method works; it relies on a subtle difference in heat transfer between the metal the nut is made of and the slightly cooler metal across the threads of the bolt; you get one shot at this - if you try a second time both metals will be around the same temperature - you'll cut both when you're only trying to cut one. This method requires knowledge and a great deal of practice - you're not going to do it the first few tries. Rusted nuts are a tiny bit easier, the rust in the threads retards the heat transfer - that gives you a tiny bit more time. This method is really an excellent demonstration of the laws of thermodynamics. Thanks.

[@randybeard6040]

When you get as old as me, Rusty Nuts are just something you Live With---lol....

[@brianhoxworth3881]

When your rusty nuts turn into cotton balls, you got a problem.

[@MaineEveryday]

I know a randy beard. You from Maine by chance?

[@peacepoet1947]

I broke the studs on the exhaust manifold that I needed to repair after having a shop replace the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold that comes off the engine. The shop had been hammering things on the vehicle. When I drove away my engine sounded different. I opened the hood of the 72 Chevy El Camino and the exhaust had a cracked by the number 1 cylinder. The shop denied responsibility for the damage. The one I got from the recycling yard is still working great these days. Recently bought her new front tires and a new tailpipe from the muffler to the back end. Love my El Camino. I purchased her with an overhead camper on her back on February 15, 1975. Been all over the United States from San Diego, California to Atlanta, Georgia and then to the State of Washington. I visited Mount Saint Helen's twice after the volcano erupted. Visiting Spirit Lake I watched the tadpoles swimming in the water undisturbed by the chaos in the area. On my way home I got to sleep in the Rredwood Forest. So many memories of me and my 72 Chevy El Camino with an overhead camper on her back!

[@machineman6498]

Kinda wish I kept my cracked exhaust manifolds to practice on after the headers went in.

[@OcRefrig]

El Camino Was a Cool Car back in the day ! 327 or 350 in it ? Still very cool , haven't seen one in a Long time. i've got a 1986 iroc z-28 that i Love. T-tops, all original. i'm the Original owner. Ordered the car , Had it Built for Me , Arrived October 11th , 1985. 305 Tpi. 17 city. 30 Mpg All Hwy. i Was Blown away at the Hwy Mileage. Aerodynamics is a Beautiful thing & it's not that Heavy.

[@peacepoet1947]

@@machineman6498 on what vehicle?

[@machineman6498]

@@peacepoet1947 72 Gran Torino Sport. 429. Had to disconnect/reconnect the steering box to get the headers in. And the car is very much gone….

[@Mr2004MCSS]

I had a 71 El Camino back in the day. It was a 350 2 barrel. I sometimes wish I would have kept it. I also have a 70 Monte Carlo that I have owned for 37 years and it's had a 396 big block in it since the late 90's.

[@daveholden7567]

As Johnny from Fantastik 4 said--FLAME ON! Common sense way to deal with all the rust.

[@BlewShirtGuy]

Funny enough, I find with some jobs it actually goes faster just to give it up and melt everything off than to try and fight it. I've been in both extremes though, grew up and currently live in Iowa but spent 8 years working in Arizona and I can't even begin to explain how vast the difference is.

[@lexustech48]

Arizona tech here. Yeah, I cant even fathom being an independent shop AND doing it in the rust belt. Guys like Eric are my hero's in the world of fixing cars. Its not just working around insanely inconvenient engineering for you guys its also combating corrosion. I couldnt even imagine buying a car and knowing Ill have to replace it because it literally rotted from underneath me in 10 years.

[@andrecampbell691]

Thanks for your video. It was very informative. I'm 70 and have a couple of rusty nuts that need attention. 👍😁

[@MrHunt1701]

Joshy in the back working that alignment around 8:40

[@randomugliness1238]

i tried that for the first time the other day. subaru where i wanted to reuse the studs between the front and rear cat. i was sucessful!!

[@robhunter2435]

Right on!! Don't know unless you try

[@PhillipBailey]

Around here sometimes the nuts are so rusty and thin I just split them with an air chisel. The induction heater is my second choice if it still resembles a nut.

[@dogdooley4495]

I watch the Sherwoods at Royalty, and I've never seen them use a torch. I'm amazed when they're working on an early 2000s Chevy pickup, and it still has rocker panels. I do have one of those induction heaters, and it does the job on some jobs, but here in NY, the torch is a huge time saver.

[@JohnDoesGarage]

I used to work on rust just south of Erie, PA until I moved to South Carolina thirty years ago and opened my own shop. Out of necessity, I learned how to use a torch and I still use mine, but not anywhere near as often as I used to have the need. It has been easily over twenty years since I had to get my tanks refilled and I still have plenty of gas left. I have a Purox torch set, that tells you how long I've had them. Great video and being able to use a torch is an invaluable skill.

[@sspnugen]

Eric is amazing with the torch

[@turner0224]

Eric, you and Vick have spent many many hours together, you guys have developed the exact relationship an accomplished surgeon develops with his scalpel with the same accuracy. You guys have many more years of rustic surgeries to perform ha ha ha .

[@DarrenSteele-mx3ks]

I'm a huge fan of Rainman ray repairs yet since watching a video from your channel I keep coming back for more- I so enjoy your content!

[@SouthMainAuto]

Glad you like them!

[@ronandloriwood7847]

I am now KZbin certified, Thank you Eric...LOL

[@GregoryMcLean]

Mr. O has been wielding that torch for quite a few years, you can tell.

[@DD-DD-DD]

I don't have an oxy torch at home, but I do keep a set of nut splitters in various sizes. It isn't always possible to use them because you need clearance on all sides of the rusty nut in question. A thought for the home gamers.

[@robhunter2435]

Ya I got a couple of them but have not had to use them yet. Keep fingers crossed.

[@REDMAN298]

When I do precision cutting I use a welding tip. Same deal, get it red hot and then I open the oxygen valve and cut away. Works good cutting tail pipes out of mufflers too.

[@helgew9008]

Have you tried those nut splitters? It's essentially a little screw press that fits around the nut and a chisel is driven into the nut to cut it. You can't always get enough access, though.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

When my Dad had his shop in Massachusetts he was good with the torch. Originally he bought and used an AP Muffler and exhaust air gun that came with several cutting tools. Loud but effective. Then came the torch. Better AND more fun! Nice tech tip Mr. O!

[@trainingrevolution2031]

Love these "This is how I do this...." videos. Always great to see how different techniques work in different regions. So glad we rarely see rust here in the South!

[@mikebarton3218]

I knew an operator at a scrapyard here in the UK who could split a 5/16” UNF nut with a single blow of a hammer and cold chisel. Amazing to watch. Thanks for the video.

[@markmichlewicz5141]

I worked with an older grntleman who once drilled a hole thru a bolt top to bottom and torched a broken bolt out of a steering knuckle for me and didn't touch the internal threads and I put a new bolt in.I was blown away.

[@MaineEveryday]

60% of the time, everytime. Love that movie

[@bobby9195]

Definitely a surgeon with the torch. Great job Eric

[@ronallen6578]

A teaching Tuesday moment 😊😊

[@stephencurry8552]

I am in the Southwest, I am thankful I do not live where you are and rust is but one reason. All my cars and motorcycles are rust-free.

[@mrbill8542]

Eric O.---the master of the blue wrench !!!

[@Michael-yi4mc]

Eric Okay!

[@SimiNelsonFamily]

Metric and SAE!

[@mph5896]

Yeah, Eric o is a torch magician

[@Michael-yi4mc]

@@SimiNelsonFamily 👍In that order!

[@Michael-yi4mc]

@@mph5896 👍He could be a Hawaiian dancer 💃

[@chiparooo]

Very nice work with the Gas Ax! Perfect technique. Thanks for sharing!

[@Mr.Z1776]

Rusty nuts...now there's something us married guys can relate too!!

[@glennmuir5617]

Speak for yourself. Not everyone married an ice cube.

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

I use petroleum jelly for my rusty nuts 😅

[@spelunkerd]

A couple of generations ago I worked in a manufacturing facility and for a few months had a torch in my hand most of the day. When you mentioned how the nut can separate off if you find a cleavage plane it brought back vivid memories. Like many other skills, there's a definite learning curve, your timing needs to be spot on. I'm often impressed by your skill with a torch, it takes years to be consistently good.

[@johndesaavedra1040]

One of my first tools in the early 1970's was the Harris torch set. I still have it and have rebuilt it many times. Hobby DIY here. I've been keeping old iron running since I was 14.

[@papabapyro8169]

You Sir are a master with the torch to not F up the threads. Very impressed. Cheers

[@gplusgplus2286]

DIY here, did the same thing just today for the first time on my 24 year old Audi. Used Mapp gas, not the powerful oxyacetylene you have. Success rate 5/6, I broke the second stud I did. If I wasn't doing it for the first time I would probably have saved it. I had trouble getting the nut only red hot instead of the inside thread, both became red hot. As soon as I could feel the nut move just a bit it was back and forth time with lots of WD40 and it worked. The threads are reusable.

[@S3M3E3]

lol good ol Ms O being a smart ace.

[@marcshaner3658]

Every time you say “Deez Nuts”, I giggle like a school girl, and I’m 62 years old. I can’t help it, great information and entertainment Mr. O. God bless.

[@bigbill709]

Where I live the old time farmers referred to the cat converter as Cadillac Converter. 😅

[@brucedale4465]

And the torch was called a gas powered hacksaw!

[@MikeD-7z]

Amazing Eric! I am expert with an acetylene torch and have never not worn gloves. I am humbled.

[@mikemiller3565]

Always good advice from Uncle Bob.

[@OlofTheBald]

I personally can confirm that the ol' "Heat It n' Beat It" method works every time when dealing with my rusty nuts. 👍

[@davidgoldberg]

Handling that oxygen lever with the deft of a surgeon!

[@Zupdood2]

I do like Sherwood's induction heating tool; I'd never seen it before and it's pretty cool!

[@steveherring8494]

Hi Eric it’s your AZ connection, Willie Nelson’s guitar is named trigger but also Roy Roger’s horses name it trigger. I haven’t really named my vehicles except my 67 mustang her name is sally. Thanks for all the lessons.

[@wadepatton2433]

First time I saw Eric split one old rusty, I knew he'd been doing it that way for a while. As I sometimes have to remind the younger ones: It's hardly ever as easy as I make it look. Eric is good with the torch. Simple but experience makes it easy enough after a bit.

[@williamdyckman9704]

Eric, you are a master with that torch. Can learn alot by watching that video! Thanks !

[@scowell]

Givin' IC Weld a run for his money! Beating the book as always.

[@andrewl9472]

I do always enjoy in your videos as well as others in the rust belt when you’re trying to get a nut or bolt loose and there is a jump cut and the pop of the torch being lit

[@joedingman4181]

Dr O with hot wrench surgery sliced to perfection....

[@guyc66]

You are the Charlie Daniels of the cutting torch!

[@daveamo3237]

I have found over the years , that the thermal wrench works quite well. Taking care and having a lot of patience helps.

[@NateASE]

Great vid! Blue wrench and inductor are our best friends in the rust belt!

[@bw6078]

@7:30 I agree with you about your experience. There's no replacement for the experience you have. Nice job.

[@greggc8088]

I worked in a Georgia shop that wouldn't rent the tanks and buy us a torch so I bought my own and rented it out to them. It is needed. Especially when the dumb ice used car sales manager gets a whim to "save money" and head north to the car auction. I admire Eric's effort. I probably wouldn't spend the time fixing rusty stuff and just guy salvage yard replacement components where possible. Or new.

[@Mikeissm]

I recently had to do converters on my 05 Taurus in my driveway. Southern Georgia car it's whole life with 300k miles. Pretty sure the old converters were original. Anyway was able to get the bottom nut off with my Earthquake XT half inch with a reducer and swivel sockets but the upper nut was noticeably more corroded. After using a chisel and hammer for while a friend brought me some Dremels with cutoff wheels and off it comes. Cut the stud a little on the third converter but new nut threaded on just fine and torqued to spec. Car is pretty rust free but the exhaust system no matter where you are will always rust easily due to the high heat, moisture/humidity in the air, and rain.

[@garysgarage3669]

Great video. I don’t have a torch yet. I just did some exhaust work last week and my air hammer was the star of the show. Don’t was your money on a “central pneumatic” I had one. They’re totally useless. Spend a little more money and get something better.

[@jefftullius]

Royalty Auto Service is in St Mary Georgia not to far from the ocean. Probably a little more rust than us here in Macon or Atlanta Georgia.

[@matthewhaddon599]

Back in the day, many cars had brass nuts on the exhaust which didn't rust, but of course the stud would still rust so they were still quite difficult to remove and quite often stripped the threads on the nut.

[@cardo1111]

The Jedi of dealing with rust. Nice to see you closing in on 900,000 subs 👍🏽

[@thyubernoob]

Most us in the rust belt own a torch ..its a must if you play with cars!

[@phillperry487]

The ole rusty nuts...hate it when that happens!

[@chrissiano381]

Another "Real Mechanic" channel to watch.😁 I like no nonsense channels like this..

[@rmc5278]

Imagine haveing his shop with his tools , but nothing without mr o

[@arjanvanraaij8440]

I am a diy'er without a inductionheater or a torchset. But I have heated rusty nuts red hot with a Tig welder.

[@kpdvw]

The amazing Eric O scored again....!

[@machineman6498]

THANK YOU Got a 50 year old New England project car and need this badly. Will Practice!

[@RJon2006]

The G.O.A.T. Best channel on KZbin.

[@briansaysdie]

Came in for personal hygiene advice, stayed for the useful car repair tips.

[@woody95124]

Your just darn good bud..

[@gsprof9788]

One of the things I do is first take a wire brush and clean the threads on the stud first. Once the nut starts loosing it’ll come off easier. If you look at the the threads after you get the nut off you’ll notice only the 1 st to 3 rd threads of the stud that are inside the nut are rusted those further inside the nut are “usually rust free. An old plumbers trick is try slightly tightening the nut first even if you just shock the nut with an impact lightly and it doesn’t budge you’ll break the rust lose enough then wire brush. Then alternate loosen and tighten the night very slightly with impact As we know time is money in our business so we do t have the time to soak it in penetrating oil. Then I use heat and impact working it back and forth. Even if the nuts so badly rusted you can’t get a socket on it heat and a chisel is your friend. Another trick getting the stud out cause it isn’t reusable, if your blessed with a mig welder, weld a new nut on to the stud, let everything cool then apply heat to the flange, the mini conductor comes with a nice un-coiled element you can wrap around the flange or around the stud between the new nut and flange. If your. To experienced with a torch and Eric appears to be master at it, or don’t have any of the other tools mentioned. Save yourself headaches and either find them or farm the job out.

[@mikemorse8592]

Work on big trucks in the Midwest most days the torch is up and running before the coffee pot is

[@SpaceWolfPainter]

Big Red Wrench. Because bolts can't be tight when they're liquid.

[@dnlmachine4287]

Legend. Nice work again Mr. O. A Similar technique is use a Dremel tool with cutoff disc. Split the nut, chisel it to get it moving. Thats one instance where penetrating fluid actually helps. Stay gold.

[@JustHelpMeOuT5466]

I got a torch set couple weeks ago and a mig welder last week, im telling you, you make me spend so much money. The torch kept popping. It was the tip that wasnt sealing right, got a new one and works like a charm. I'm gonna follow your lesson master O. and start practicing on new stuff this weekend and see how that goes LOL Let's cut some bolts!!! 🔥🔥🔥🧯

[@MrPoppyDuck]

This guy could have been a surgeon. That was amazing !

[@Johntasticful]

Thanks Doctor O for solving my rusty nuts problem

[@davebloggs]

I was originally from the Uk and just about every job involved the hot wrench, it aint tight if its liquid.

[@Troy_Built]

They are great for removing frozen shock bolts also. Sometimes you really need to cut the bushing while saving the bolt.

[@tompetrushka1627]

I always called it the Blue wrench! Fits any size fastener. Until you run out of Acetelyn 2 nuts from getting it all loose! Thanks for the vid from PRNJ. Just ordered a shirt. Gotta have me one...

[@johnhufnagel]

might have to get some rod and nuts and play with my torch.

[@steveobrien4459]

i would like to see you get a drain plug out od the oil pan using that tecknick,

[@snocrushr]

The minute rust filled gap between the nut and the stud/bolt is a thermal barrier which in my opinion allows you to melt the nut and not the underlying metal. 👍👍

[@OcRefrig]

Great video ! if You don't have a cutting tip for your torch , You can do almost the exact same thing with Standard torch tip & Feathering the Oxygen valve / opening the valve more in a blast & almost closing the oxygen down while heating the area in need of cutting. using a #2 tip & 5psi acetylene & 20 psig oxygen setting and a little practice can get u there. When u get good enough You Can Draw a Line in a piece of sheet metal with a torch. a #2 tip can get into tight places too. a #1 tip can be used in tight quarters.

[@johneaston2293]

Yes in the UK we call that washing it works very well even on heavy welded stuff when you want to wash the weld of a fitting or bracket .

[@richard.d5121]

My uncle owned a junk yard they called the torches the liquid wrench LOL

[@billkaczynski7709]

Rusty nuts I can relate to that😮

[@cb3plus845]

You can even get a specialty tip for your torch. I’ve only heard them called boiler washing tips. They’re curved or hooked, making it easier to wash out the metal.

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

Scarfing or gouging tip is what they are called. And a curved tip does not make it a scarfing tip. For most of his applications I don't know that it would be beneficial.

[@Dave-ei7kk]

I call my Oxy acetylene torch my “Fire Wrench”. Works well, but be careful around gasoline, plastics, and wire harnesses. If that is a problem an induction heater is probably a better choice if you have room to use it.

[@r2ogren77]

Old mechanics, reminiscent days.

[@TheoldBiker-bi1ho]

Thank's for this good information about how to get rusted nuts loose ! They always get rusted here in Sweden too... 🙂