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rolltododge t1_j6fk5m1 wrote

Reply to comment by Supreme-Bob in How do I remove a stuck bolt holding my bike's kickstand in place? by S_Orbital

also, metal gets pliable/compliant when hot so it's easier to get stuff moving.

downvotes? metal expands and gets much softer when it gets hot... and thus a hole in a piece of metal expands making it easier to remove things that are stuck..

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choochoopants t1_j6hgjpg wrote

Yes metal expands when it gets hotter, but you’re not applying heat to “make the hole bigger.” When metal expands, it expands in all directions, not just out. You’re also not trying to soften the metal. Given that your next step is to apply torque, it would be counter-productive to make the metal pliable.

Different metals expand at different rates when heated, and this difference will cause the rust bond that has formed between the nut and the bolt to break loose. That’s why heat works.

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