[VAC] Re: removal of black water tank shroud Welding Rod Trick

["Carol and Oliver Filippi" <ofilippi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

An old journeyman millwright told me how he removed broken screws and bolts.

He used a standard stick arc welder and simply welded the stick (consumable
electrode) to the bolt.

If you have ever stick welded, you know that you strike the arc by quickly
touching (scratching the stick to the work and then pulling it away slightly
to create an arc.  If you don't pull away, the electrode sticks (welds
itself) to the work (and you have to break it loose).

In the bolt removal case, if you stick the electode to the bolt and then
release the stick holder from the electrode, you now have an extension
welded to the bolt, which can be turned with a pair of vise grip pliers.
The heating and cooling of the bolt (a byproduct of this procedure also
helps to loosen the seized bolt from the work.

E-Z out screw extractors work ok on larger bolts, but are difficult on small
diameter ones.  Also, you can't drill out sheet metal screws, since they are
hardened steel.  Another trick is to use the special left hand spiral drills
prior to using the E Z Out.

Oliver Filippi