Stuck bolt in DOM tubing

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If I would have had a reamer on hand, this wouldn't be an issue.  I have a 1/2" bolt I was trying to get through some DOM tubing I had welded on previously.  The tubing obviously shrank due to the welding, however, I tried to push the bolt through anyway after heating up the tubing with a couple of small torches.Well, I was able to get the bolt in half way before it became stuck.  Couldn't back out the bolt at this point.  So, I decided to use brute force and I stuck it in the press.  I was able to press it in about another 1/2" or so, but still a few inches shy of where it needs to be.At this point, if I can get the bolt out, I will just take a sanding disc and grind it down a little bit to make it fit (I don't have a lathe).  So, how can I get it out at this time?  If I reheat it I am assuming the bolt and DOM will expand at about the same rate... or am I wrong?  If I keep one end of the bolt in ice and heat up the DOM will that be enough temperature difference to back the bolt out?Just looking for some suggestions.Thanks in advance.Last edited by jdh239; 02-16-2013 at 10:14 PM.The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:The trick will be to dump enough heat into the system fast. Since the tube is thinner, it will heat faster than the heavier bolt. You can further reduce the heat in the bolt with a wet rag. If you sit there and try to take all day to heat these, they'll both heat about the same.I'd also go with twisting the bolt to remove it. If it's that tight, you might get it to start to thread it's way out vs having the threads act as "teeth" to help lock it in. I'd be tempted to hit it with the impact wrench  lightly to see if it would back out..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:It sounds like you need a torch capable of putting enough heat into the tube, fast enough, that the bolt doesnt get hot. So ... time to make a friend or go shopping.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Thx for the recommendations.  I ended up rebuilding them today.  In fact, after rebuilding them I discovered I built them incorrectly (angled the spindles the wrong direction), so both the first set (discussed above) and the second were bad.   I ended up building a 3rd set!  Anyway, they are on the gokart now and it is working well.The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --