Q: can't remove rusty toilet seat! Help!

[Annette Easton]

Hi there,

Okay, I have a problem. I have to replace a toilet seat. Unfortunately
the seat is held on with metal bolts and screws, which have obviously
been on there a very long time because they are VERY rusty. I tried just
using a screwdriver and wrench, but it didn't budge. Soaked the thing,
as well as one can being attached to a toilet, in WD40 AND Liquid Wrench
- tried the screwdriver again - didn't budge. Thought "aha! I know!
I need MORE POWER! I'll put my electric screwdriver bits in my drill!!"
All that accomplished was to break the bit. This thing is stuck. The
seat NEEDS to come off.

I thought of using a hacksaw, but there's a wall rather close to one
side, and a sink on the other, and I don't know if there's enough room to
get the blade in. I thought of trying to break the screw with a hammer,
but since it's attached to the porcelain toilet I didn't think that
would be a good thing to do.

So right now I'm stuck with a cracked wooden toilet seat held on by two
very rusty screws and bolts that just won't budge. Any practical
suggestions on how to get the thing off?

Annette

[Juli Bedwell]

Had the same problem once. Lucky enough to get a hacksaw blade (no frame)
to cut bolt. Thought at the time about getting a "nut splitter" from the
automotive supply store to crack the nut. Might be worth a look.

[Richard J. Kinch]

Annette Easton (musi...@io.uwinnipeg.ca) wrote:

: So right now I'm stuck with a cracked wooden toilet seat held on by two

: very rusty screws and bolts that just won't budge. Any practical
: suggestions on how to get the thing off?

If you can grab both ends as tight as possible with locking pliers you ought
to be able to just twist an end off.

You might have to chew the seat hinges off the rusty bolts with something
like a tile nibbler, in order to get room for a good purchase. That would
also give enough room for a compact hacksaw blade holder.

Use plastic or brass screws for the replacement, so it won't happen agin.

[George Barbarow]

In article <5343rv$1...@canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca>, musi...@io.uwinnipeg.ca
says...

>
>Hi there,
>
>Okay, I have a problem. I have to replace a toilet seat. Unfortunately
>the seat is held on with metal bolts and screws, which have obviously
>been on there a very long time because they are VERY rusty. I tried just
>using a screwdriver and wrench, but it didn't budge. Soaked the thing,
>as well as one can being attached to a toilet, in WD40 AND Liquid Wrench
>- tried the screwdriver again - didn't budge. Thought "aha! I know!
>I need MORE POWER! I'll put my electric screwdriver bits in my drill!!"
> All that accomplished was to break the bit. This thing is stuck. The
>seat NEEDS to come off.
>
>I thought of using a hacksaw, but there's a wall rather close to one
>side, and a sink on the other, and I don't know if there's enough room to
>get the blade in. I thought of trying to break the screw with a hammer,
>but since it's attached to the porcelain toilet I didn't think that
>would be a good thing to do.
>

>So right now I'm stuck with a cracked wooden toilet seat held on by two
>very rusty screws and bolts that just won't budge. Any practical
>suggestions on how to get the thing off?
>

>Annette
>
>
Hi Annette:

Have you considered trying to "step drill" the screws ? Start with a center
punch and make an indent at the center of each screw. Then take a small
drill bit perhaps 1/8" diameter and drill all the way through the screws.
Next take a slightly larger drill for example a 3/16 diameter and drill the
two holes larger. Next go to 1/4" diameter and so on until the wall left
can easily be broken and removed.

Have Fun !

George in NW NJ

[Sailman]

In the time that I worked as a plumber the most terrifying calls I ever
got were the ones to replace old toilet seats. Even though I got
customers to sign notes saying that I would not be responsable for broken
toilets in trying to get off old seats I still got fights and angry
customers when after 2 hours of carefully sawing and gentle twisting on
25 year old bolts that held on like the devil until the toilet bowls
cracked I have never heard an easy way.. I've tried drilling, grinding,
sawing and sweat and still would break one out of every 4 or 5 toilets.

Dave the ex-industrial supply guy (and plumber) :(

[Robert Lytle]

Dremel tool has a little cutter wheel bit that would be perfect for
removing rusty bolts

Richard J. Kinch <ki...@netline.net> wrote in article
<534q5h$t...@tesla.netline.net>...
> Annette Easton (musi...@io.uwinnipeg.ca) wrote:
>
> : So right now I'm stuck with a cracked wooden toilet seat held on by two

> : very rusty screws and bolts that just won't budge. Any practical
> : suggestions on how to get the thing off?
>

[Dave Marulli]

Try drilling through the screws from the top. Start with a small
bit and work your way through larger one until the screw falls out.

When you replace the toilet seat, make sure you use plastic nuts.
While then may still rust on, they can be cut with a utility knife
to remove.

[Radice]

The best way I found to handle this is HEAT!
A heavy duty soldering iron or soldering gun applied
to the rusty parts will allow you to pull on the seat
enough to make it possible to cut it with a hacksaw...
Or, with enough patience...on each side...pull it out
altogther.
Good luck...Gene R,

[Radice]

NOTE: I forgot to mention that this only works with
plastic seats! If it's wood...I'd try a chisel!
G>R>

[ljs6...@gmail.com]

Just took off a toilet seat ,rusted bolts and it was a rusted tight mess.
Tried everything .So decided to get my trusty stake knife and a a lighter.
Heated the knife blade and cut through the plastic nut.
Took me about 10 minutes to remove both sides.

[Stormin Mormon]

Cuts like a hot stake (sic) knife through
plastic, eh? Nice to no (sic) some thing
werkx.

Hukt on fonix werkt vor mee.

--
.
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
. www.lds.org
.
.

[Oren]

Wow. Never saw plastic rust. BTW, what is the question in the subject
line? Do you have a question? I'm confused.

[Oren]

On Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:36:02 -0400, Stormin Mormon
<cayo...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On 3/31/2016 1:44 PM, ljs6...@gmail.com wrote:
>> Just took off a toilet seat ,rusted bolts and it was a rusted tight mess.
>> Tried everything .So decided to get my trusty stake knife and a a lighter.
>> Heated the knife blade and cut through the plastic nut.
>> Took me about 10 minutes to remove both sides.
>>
>
>Cuts like a hot stake (sic) knife through
>plastic, eh? Nice to no (sic) some thing
>werkx.
>
>Hukt on fonix werkt vor mee.

Ebonics?

[Stormin Mormon]

Fonix, not Ebonics.

[bob haller]

sawzall. fast easy fix.

[Uncle Monster]

On Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 3:36:05 PM UTC-5, Stormin Mormon wrote:
> On 3/31/2016 1:44 PM, ljs6...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Just took off a toilet seat ,rusted bolts and it was a rusted tight mess.
> > Tried everything .So decided to get my trusty stake knife and a a lighter.
> > Heated the knife blade and cut through the plastic nut.
> > Took me about 10 minutes to remove both sides.
> >
> Cuts like a hot stake (sic) knife through
> plastic, eh? Nice to no (sic) some thing
> werkx.
>
> Hukt on fonix werkt vor mee.
> --
> .

Isn't a stake knife the thing used to kill a vampire or is it used to trim and sharpen tent stakes. o_O

[8~{} Uncle Steak Monster

[Stormin Mormon]

Of course, it's a vampire killer. Here in PRNY,
we can't get silver bullets. Or much any other
kind of bullet.

[Uncle Monster]

On Friday, April 1, 2016 at 9:09:25 AM UTC-5, Stormin Mormon wrote:
> On 4/1/2016 9:57 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:
> > On Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 3:36:05 PM UTC-5, Stormin Mormon wrote:
> >> Cuts like a hot stake (sic) knife through
> >> plastic, eh? Nice to no (sic) some thing
> >> werkx.
> >>
> >> Hukt on fonix werkt vor mee.
> >> --
> >> .
> > Isn't a stake knife the thing used to kill a
> vampire or is it used to trim and sharpen tent
> stakes. o_O
> >
> > [8~{} Uncle Steak Monster
> >
> Of course, it's a vampire killer. Here in PRNY,
> we can't get silver bullets. Or much any other
> kind of bullet.
> --
> .

Blade can, he kills those bloodsuckers left and right. There was a Blade marathon on a while back where all the movies were shown back to back. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Blade Monster

[e.z...@comcast.net]

I used heavy duty bolt cutters with an angled head😉

[Oren]

On Mon, 11 Apr 2016 02:04:00 -0700 (PDT), e.z...@comcast.net wrote:

>I used heavy duty bolt cutters with an angled head?

Why?

[gatu...@gmail.com]

Similar problem- toilet too close to wall for using a wrench or pliers 'blind' and the bolt and nut were rusted solid. Tried drilling out the bolt head, but only succeeded in spinning both nut and bolt. So, I purchased a package of (metric) nuts that fit perfectly and screwed them all onto the bolt , by feel. Then I was able to use a crescent wrench to 'grab' the lowest nut and proceeded to drill out the bolt head. The clockwise rotation of the drill caused the nuts to tighten and I shortly had the job done, as the torque of the drill caused the bolt to shear. I drilled first with a small bit, then used one closer in size to the bolt size.

Didn't try the hacksaw method since very little room for play.

[Vic Smith]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2017 13:54:47 -0700 (PDT), gatu...@gmail.com wrote:

>Similar problem- toilet too close to wall for using a wrench or pliers 'blind' and the bolt and nut were rusted solid. Tried drilling out the bolt head, but only succeeded in spinning both nut and bolt. So, I purchased a package of (metric) nuts that fit perfectly and screwed them all onto the bolt , by feel. Then I was able to use a crescent wrench to 'grab' the lowest nut and proceeded to drill out the bolt head. The clockwise rotation of the drill caused the nuts to tighten and I shortly had the job done, as the torque of the drill caused the bolt to shear. I drilled first with a small bit, then used one closer in size to the bolt size.
>
>Didn't try the hacksaw method since very little room for play.

The main thing with a toilet is not breaking the porcelain.

I've used these more than once.
https://tinyurl.com/k9f9u66

If you've got some kind of mototool, these work well.
I've even used them on hardened engine studs a few times when the
usual tools won't work.
https://tinyurl.com/kfcydek

[ad...@emedia-webhosting.co.uk]

Great tip. Worked perfectly.

[emmy...@gmail.com]

You need a product called 'Plus Gas' spray it on the offending bolt, wait about a minute, GENTLY tap one side of the wing nut and you should be able to unscew it. Works for me!