Old 40 year old trailer . Screws

80sDiesel · 27-04-2017 8:59pm #1

Going to refurbish an old wood and metal trailer,

The problem is detaching the wood from the frame. I can twist the bolt but the other side ( flat,,) twists with every turn. I can't grip to hold the flat side as it near flat to the wood.

Any tricks on how to remove bolt

_Brian · 27-04-2017 9:01pm

Grinder??

patsy_mccabe · 27-04-2017 9:05pm

Cut across the nut at 45deg and it will fall apart with a belt of a hammer.

blue5000 · 27-04-2017 9:13pm

Junior angle grinder with a skinny disc? Are you doing the floor or sides. Or if the wood is rotten just break it away with a lump hammer first, it will be easy cut the bolt then.

_Brian · 27-04-2017 9:20pm

The thin discs are only for straight organised cuts, any deflection and the disc will shatter and the pieces sting like hell

Regular cutting disc might be better for this job.

80sDiesel · 27-04-2017 9:43pm

Thanks. So is a grinder my only option then? The wood is good but I figured it would be easy to paint if I took it off as I am painting the metal a different colour.

bb12 · 27-04-2017 9:44pm

if you can dig out enough wood around the flat side to get a vice grips on it, then hammer a screwdriver into the wood beside it to use a stop when it turns, it might work for you. used this method when refurbishing a trailer myself without any cutting tools handy. lots of wd40 also to help get the nut off

80sDiesel · 27-04-2017 10:31pm

Thanks.
Why would they use flat ends in the first place? Was it just old style ?

Muckit · 28-04-2017 6:44am

Cuphead bolts. They are designed for timber. The square wedges in the timber so that the bolt doesn't move while you put on nut. If the trailer was left out a lot, water would have seeped down in between the bolt and timber, rotting it. Even if it wasn't left out, a certain condensation would corrode the bolts.

Use Douglas fir or good larch if you can get it. More expensive than softwood but worth it.

_Brian · 28-04-2017 7:46am

80sDiesel wrote: »

Thanks. So is a grinder my only option then? The wood is good but I figured it would be easy to paint if I took it off as I am painting the metal a different colour.

If your trying to save the timber can you get to the side of the bold against the steel and cut it off there??

I've seen similar done with a pneumatic chisel attachment, quick job but you'd need the equipment.
Bit like this, was on equipment we were refurbishing that needed panels removed.

https://youtu.be/DDznaW1epaM

Old 40 year old trailer . Screws

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