Tools Use Heat To Loosen Stuck Parts
I recently tested a couple tools that use flame-free heat to remove rusted bolts and other parts. Unlike a torch, they’re safe to use around fuel lines, electrical wiring, and other flammable materials because they focus electromagnetic energy only on the parts you’re working on.
You place an insulated electrode around the nut, bolt or other part and turn on the power. Only the ferrous parts surrounded by the electrode heat up.
The first tool I tried was the 110-volt, 1,800-watt Mini-Ductor Venom HP from Induction Innovations. I needed to loosen some badly rusted bolts and set screws on an old twin shank toolbar that had been impossible to remove with wrenches.
The tool comes with various pre-formed electrode coils to fit a variety of nuts and bolts. They also offer flexible coils that can be wrapped around larger items, such as a bearing. There’s even a pad-type electrode that can be used to gently heat flat surfaces to pull out dents or remove adhesive backed stickers.
I first tried a 7/8-in. dia. pre-formed coil to loosen a couple nuts. When heated red hot, they came loose quite easily.
I had some larger nuts on the toolbar so I used the flexible electrode by first wrapping it around a socket the size of the nuts. Again, the tool performed great.
My major concern with the tool was how quickly the insulation burned off on the electrodes, resulting in some sparking. I wanted to get more than a couple of uses out of each one. According to the company, they should be good for hundreds of uses.
So I called my contact at the company and shared photos of the coils. She politely reminded me that the manual says to “apply heat for 10 to 15 seconds, check the item for release, and then reheat if still seized.” I realized I had used the tool for extended periods of a minute or more in several cases. My contact also emphasized that heating parts until they’re red hot is not usually necessary and will shorten the life of the electrodes.
After testing the 1,800-watt Venom HP inductor tool, I moved on to the company’s 1000-watt, 12-volt portable unit.
You can attach the clamps to any 12-volt battery. I carried a battery and tool to a 2-wheel trailer half buried in snow. The wheels hadn't been off it since I bought it 15 years ago. I tried the lug nuts, and they were tight as a drum. Two 10-second treatments with the battery-powered inductor and the lug nuts slipped right off.
Both tools are impressive in what they can do. No question they’re expensive - at nearly $600 on Amazon.com - but for people who do a lot of work on older equipment, these would be hard to beat.
See a video at www.farmshow.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Induction Innovations, 1175 Jansen Farm Ct., Elgin, Ill. 60123 (ph 847 836-6933; info@theinductor.com; www.theinductor.com).
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Tools Use Heat To Loosen Stuck Parts FARM SHOP Miscellaneous I recently tested a couple tools that use flame-free heat to remove rusted bolts and other parts Unlike a torch they’re safe to use around fuel lines electrical wiring and other flammable materials because they focus electromagnetic energy only on the parts you’re working on You place an insulated electrode around the nut bolt or other part and turn on the power Only the ferrous parts surrounded by the electrode heat up The first tool I tried was the 110-volt 1 800-watt Mini-Ductor Venom HP from Induction Innovations I needed to loosen some badly rusted bolts and set screws on an old twin shank toolbar that had been impossible to remove with wrenches The tool comes with various pre-formed electrode coils to fit a variety of nuts and bolts They also offer flexible coils that can be wrapped around larger items such as a bearing There’s even a pad-type electrode that can be used to gently heat flat surfaces to pull out dents or remove adhesive backed stickers I first tried a 7/8-in dia pre-formed coil to loosen a couple nuts When heated red hot they came loose quite easily I had some larger nuts on the toolbar so I used the flexible electrode by first wrapping it around a socket the size of the nuts Again the tool performed great My major concern with the tool was how quickly the insulation burned off on the electrodes resulting in some sparking I wanted to get more than a couple of uses out of each one According to the company they should be good for hundreds of uses So I called my contact at the company and shared photos of the coils She politely reminded me that the manual says to “apply heat for 10 to 15 seconds check the item for release and then reheat if still seized ” I realized I had used the tool for extended periods of a minute or more in several cases My contact also emphasized that heating parts until they’re red hot is not usually necessary and will shorten the life of the electrodes After testing the 1 800-watt Venom HP inductor tool I moved on to the company’s 1000-watt 12-volt portable unit You can attach the clamps to any 12-volt battery I carried a battery and tool to a 2-wheel trailer half buried in snow The wheels hadn t been off it since I bought it 15 years ago I tried the lug nuts and they were tight as a drum Two 10-second treatments with the battery-powered inductor and the lug nuts slipped right off Both tools are impressive in what they can do No question they’re expensive - at nearly $600 on Amazon com - but for people who do a lot of work on older equipment these would be hard to beat See a video at www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Induction Innovations 1175 Jansen Farm Ct Elgin Ill 60123 ph 847 836-6933; info@theinductor com; www theinductor com
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