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Watching a guy at the Phoenix trade show fix a stripped bolt with a zip tie
He was working on a demo engine block. Bolt head was totally rounded off. Instead of drilling it out, he jammed a heavy duty zip tie in the socket and turned it slow. Came right out. I tried it back at the shop on a Ford F-150 oil pan bolt. Worked like a charm. Anyone else got a weird trick that actually saves time?
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noah_patel2mo ago
That zip tie trick for stripped bolts is a real time saver. I read a forum post about using valve grinding compound in a socket for extra grip on rounded fasteners. It's amazing what simple fixes can work when you're in a bind.
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fiona_clark2mo ago
Valve grinding compound saved my butt on a rusted caliper bolt last month. Put a dab in the socket, tapped it on with a hammer, and it bit right in. For really stubborn stuff, heating the bolt with a torch for a few seconds breaks the rust bond. Just be careful not to melt any plastic lines nearby.
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