How Do You Split a Nut Without a Nut Splitter?

When faced with a seemingly impossible task, the best course of action is often to think outside the box. But how do you split nuts when you don’t have access to a nut splitter? While it may seem like an unsolvable problem, splitting a nut without specialized tools or equipment is surprisingly simple.

With just a few easy steps and some basic household items, you can successfully separate your prized kernel in no time! In this article, we will share our tried-and-true method for splitting nuts without needing to purchase any expensive special tools — just read on below!

There are a variety of methods and tools that can be used to get rid of rusted or damaged nuts. Most of the time, these strategies are tested before using nut splitters. Once the other methods and tools are unsuccessful, using a nut splitter might become the sole option.

Freezing the bolt

This method operates by the same principles that heat the nut but causes the bolt to expand, which breaks the nuts’ rust.

Sprays of freeze are applied to the bolt, and since they contain penetrating oil and freezing agents, once the rust bond with the nut is broken, the penetrating oil can penetrate the threads of the bolt, which makes it much easier to take off the bolt.

Heating the nut

This method involves using an oxy-acetylene or blow torch to warm one part of the bolt. It is commonly employed in automotive workshops. When the nut is heated, the nut expands, breaking down the rust and keeping it in place to the bolt.

After the nut has been heated, remove the torch and apply the paraffin wax to the cooler part of the nut. The wax will begin to melt and then be drawn through a capillary force to the threads on the nut as well as a bolt, acting as the lubricant.

Let the nut cool before attempting to remove it once more. This method can only be employed in specific conditions.

Penetrating oil

It’s often the first thing applied to a corrosion-ridden nut on a stud or bolt. Spray the oil onto the nut, which will break down the dirt, corrosion, and grime clogging the bolt to the nut. Penetrating oils also have lubricants help reduce friction between the bolt’s threads. This makes it easier to rotate the bolt.

Using a punch to tap the nut

This technique is typically applied to an affected or round nut, which cannot be rotated using the help of a spanner or socket. Then a small indent is made on the flat of the nut by tapping using the hammer, which is small and at a parallel angle to the nuts in the middle of the flats.

A punch is then angled within the indent you created so that when struck by a hammer, it forces the nut to rotate counterclockwise. The process of making an indent and then forcing the nut to spin slightly could repeat several times until the nut is removed.

Using a chisel to split nuts

If you’ve got a nut that will not come off and you’re seeking ways to remove it, try using the chipper. It is possible to split the nut using an axe without doing any damage to the bolt. Chisels are great for removing from a nut without using the cutting torch or a reciprocating saw.

It is not a matter of whether the nut has been seized by the bolt because of corrosion or rust, as breaking it can break this bond.

STEP 1

Create a vertical hole along the sides of the nut by using an electric drill with a size drill bit. The dimension of the drill bit will depend on the dimension of the nut to be removed.

STEP 2

Place the tip of a chisel blade that is flat on the surface of the nuts so that the blade of the chisel is aligned with the shaft of the bolt. The chisel’s blade should be placed directly over the hole.

STEP 3

Hit the head of the chisel with a hammer until the chisel splits and is taken off the bolt. If you have trouble following the split of one side, make an opening on the opposite face of the nut. You can then divide the nut into two parts.