tyrrell
New Member
While trying to replace an aluminium life line stanchion I found the stainless steel bolts fused to the aluminium. Any experience freeing stainoless steel bolts fused to aluminium?
Stainless steel fused to aluminium
- Thread starter tyrrell
- Start date
Topcat47
Well-Known Member
Heat and shock are my suggestion. Heat the aluminium stanchion and use an impact driver on the SS bolts.
theotter
Well-Known Member
Yes and it requires endless patience, heat and WD 40 (not easy if in situ on deck). More patience that I displayed because I ended up wrecking the bolt, aluminium stauncheon and the alloy block. It was actually a blessing in the end because it forced me to get rid of all the alloy bits. Rather than replace the alloy block (if that's what you've got) I had my tame stainless steel man make some fittings that replicated the blocks. Now all stainless and they worked out cheaper than replacement alloy blocks.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Lots - abandon hope all ye who enter...
Don't use penetrating lubricant.
Try an acid (nitric is best as nitrates are usually soluble). Heat will sometimes help (hot air gun). Several washes between applications.
Expect to have to drill them out and consider yourself lucky when you don't.
AND when us re-assemble make sure you use a barium chromate paste such as Duralac.
Don't use penetrating lubricant.
Try an acid (nitric is best as nitrates are usually soluble). Heat will sometimes help (hot air gun). Several washes between applications.
Expect to have to drill them out and consider yourself lucky when you don't.
AND when us re-assemble make sure you use a barium chromate paste such as Duralac.
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
i'd replace it if at all possible.
if you try and drill the bolt out, it's harder than the allu, so hard not to damage the allu. no prob if you have it in a vice and use a drill post !
if you try and drill the bolt out, it's harder than the allu, so hard not to damage the allu. no prob if you have it in a vice and use a drill post !
Cliveshep
Well-Known Member
This is probably shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, but stainless bolts and aluminium alloys should never be in contact with each other in the presence of an electrolite (sea water). See here: http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Definitions/galvanic-series.htm Don't feel bad about it, you aren't the first with this problem and there was a similar posting only a week ago. Boat Builders have to be aware of this problem, why they don't change their ways (meaning choice of materials) is a mystery to me.
I suggest you get a set of bespoke stainless stanchions made up, you'll be surprised at how cheap they actually are. I had a full set made up by a great firm in Kempston, Bedford. Full details of them were posted here in the PBO forum about two or three days ago in response to a request in the lounge.
Found it: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2202106/an/0/page/3#2202106
I suggest you get a set of bespoke stainless stanchions made up, you'll be surprised at how cheap they actually are. I had a full set made up by a great firm in Kempston, Bedford. Full details of them were posted here in the PBO forum about two or three days ago in response to a request in the lounge.
Found it: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2202106/an/0/page/3#2202106
alec
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the Link.
Excellent list !
Excellent list !
