How to unscrew a bolt if there is no hexagon?

The hex key can be replaced:

Types of bolts	Popular Alternative Methods
Bolts with external edges	Use a metal brush to scrub the jammed surface, apply a drop of kerosene to it and wait 20 minutes. Then you can use a spanner wrench.
	A gas wrench is an ideal option when the edges of a bolt or nut are torn off.
	Carefully make new edges using a grinder. Their number can be reduced, as well as their size. It will be easier to unscrew such a bolt, since it will be possible to select a wrench of the appropriate size.
	Chisel and hammer. Deliver precise tangential strikes. The method helps to move jammed fasteners.
	Drill a small hole in the head, insert a faceted pin in the shape of the letter “L” and pull out the bolt, turning it.
	Using welding, weld a rod to the head of the bolt and use it to unscrew the jammed part.
Bolts with internal edges	Use a regular screwdriver that fits the groove. You just need to insert it into the groove, resting against it and turning the bolt.
	A bolt and a set of nuts that correspond to the standard size of the hexagon. They need to be screwed onto the thread and placed inside the hexagon. Then unscrew and tighten using a wrench.
	A triangular file is what you can use to replace a hexagon. It needs to be inserted inside the bolt and scrolled.
	Make a hole for a flathead screwdriver and use it instead of a hexagon.

A hex wrench is a common tool, especially in furniture production. It is used to loosen or tighten bolts that have a hexagonal groove in the head.

Sometimes this tool is not at hand and you need to look for a way to replace the hexagon at home.

To fix bolts with outer edges, wrenches are used, which cannot always be used because the edges of the part are damaged in some way.

To unscrew them, you can also use improvised means.

What are the sizes of hexagons?

The size of the hexagon is determined by the diameter of the inscribed circle (d). We produce hot-rolled hexagons with a diameter of 8 to 100 mm and calibrated with a diameter of 3 to 100. By agreement with the customer, it is possible to produce rolled products with a diameter of more than 100 mm.

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Method for unscrewing a torn hexagonal protruding bolt

To unscrew such a bolt, you need to use some recommendations.

If a small hexagon needs to be unscrewed, make a small indentation in its head. Its shape should match the shape of a flat-head screwdriver.
Make a hole in the cap and drive the extractor into it. Pull it out with pliers along with the screw.
Using a drill with reverse rotation, make a hole in the head of the bolt. Then insert a drill into it with left-hand rotation and unscrew the fasteners.

Tools and materials

Yes, the hexagon is a rather difficult tool to implement. It has a regular, but not quite standard shape, so it is not so easy to make. In most cases, it is much easier to go to the nearest store that sells the tool. A tool like this isn’t that expensive to save on. However, if you need a tool urgently, and it’s already night outside, then in most cases it will not be possible to purchase a tool. You'll have to do it yourself. To work you will need the following:

Drawing of a hexagon in a circle.

a measuring tool, without it there is no way in this matter, because you will have to get the correct hexagonal shape, and this is not so easy;
metal rod made of steel 45;
incisors;
Sander;
sandpaper.

Basically, this is quite enough to carry out the entire range of work.

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Preliminary preparation

First, it is imperative to carefully prepare for the further implementation of the entire complex of events. First you need to prepare all the necessary tools. You also need to select a rod of the highest quality so that it is able to withstand the load that the hexagon takes on during operation.

So, all the most necessary cutters should be at the workplace. Of course, you can’t do this without a lathe. The work ahead is delicate, so you should choose the highest quality cutters. Now it’s time to prepare a stencil that will mark the side face of the hexagon. After all, you will have to make a full-fledged tool from a round shaft. You will need a brush to remove excess iron filings. These are all the preparatory works that need to be done before further work can be carried out.

Fasteners in modern technology are distinguished by significant diversity. These include regular hex bolts and nuts, flat and Phillips slot screws, Torx sprockets and many others. Parts with an internal hexagon stand apart here. Unscrewing them without a suitable tool is quite difficult.

The internal hex spline first patented in 1936 by the German company Bauer & Schaurte. In foreign technical literature, such screws are usually referred to under the brand name Inbus. This is an abbreviation of the German phrase Innensechskantschraube Bauer und Schaurte - a hexagon socket screw from Bauer & Schauerte.

Advantages of internal hexagon

Hexagon socket bolts and screws have a number of advantages over conventional fasteners. Firstly, there is no need to leave space around the head with such a slot for the fastening tool. In this case, you can completely “recess” the screw into the part, which is very convenient for all kinds of drain plugs.

Secondly, the torque transmitted to the part can be almost ten times greater than that of a Phillips-head fastener. Therefore, the Inbus slot is often used in units operating under heavy loads (metalworking machines, road equipment). This also allows the use of small heads for screws with larger shank diameters, ensuring that the same tool size can be used to service different assemblies. Cyclists know this well - one hex key is enough to service a bicycle on the road.

Thirdly, when using a suitable high-quality wrench, it is quite difficult to break the notches of the internal hexagon. The notches hardly wear out, the fasteners can be used repeatedly, which is important for fastening various types of inspection hatches that require frequent opening and closing.

Fourthly, the internal hex wrench is simple and cheap compared to open-end, box and socket wrenches for external hexagons.

And finally, screws with an internal hex head are much safer , since they do not have sharp outer edges, and they also look more aesthetically pleasing.

How to unscrew a hexagon without a key?

Of course, a hex wrench is not out of reach these days. In any store or car market you can pick up a hexagon of any size. But is it worth buying a relatively cheap wrench just to unscrew a tricky screw just once?

This problem is often faced by car enthusiasts who decide to repair their car themselves. The hex socket almost always has a drain plug on the transmission and often a plug in the engine oil pan.

A home craftsman may encounter hexagons when repairing a bathtub faucet or ball valve - ordinary fasteners simply do not fit there.

Moreover, in all these cases the size of the hexagon is quite decent. What to do? A bolt with a regular hex head will help .

The bolt head is inserted into the hexagonal slot and unscrewed by the rod with a gas wrench. You can also screw 3-4 nuts , wedge them well together and unscrew them with a regular spanner.

When unscrewing, you need to twist closest to the head, and when tightening, vice versa, by the farthest one . If the hexagon has a non-standard size, then the head of the key bolt can be sharpened with a file or on a sharpening machine.

What to do if the hexagon is torn off?

It happens that attempts to unscrew a hexagon socket screw using improvised means or a wrench of a slightly inappropriate size lead to the edges breaking off. In this case, too, there is a way out.

a TORX sprocket into it and unscrew it. If the head is accessible, then you should try to unscrew the screw using pliers, a gas wrench or a hand vice.

a hammer and chisel almost always helps . The chisel should not be very sharp, and blows should be struck tangentially in the direction of unscrewing. By the way, check , maybe the thread on the screw is left-handed?

For steel bolts and hexagon socket screws, you can weld a nut, piece of rebar, or something similar to the head so that the bolt can be removed.

And remember that one person screwed it on, another can always unscrew it.

Here's another way to remove problem screws using an engraver with a cutting wheel. This can be done on a large scale using a hacksaw or grinder.

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How to get a Licked Screw?

Let's assume that the head on the self-tapping screw or screw remains, but the slot is torn off, as many craftsmen say - “licked”, rolled. A screwdriver or drill simply breaks off such fasteners. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to use a piece of rubber or any rubberized material.

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Regular hexagon

Anna Kharchenko overcame thousands of kilometers and countless stereotypes on the way to her dream. She created a hexagon-shaped office desk and entered it into a design competition. The work went unnoticed by the jury, but attracted the interest of the Archpole company. The architectural and production laboratory at Elektrozavod not only launched the production of tables and other items from the Hexagon collection, but also equipped its own office with trendy furniture. Today Anna is opening up new facets of design and proving by her example that risk is a noble cause.

Vladivostok-Moscow

The name of Anna Kharchenko is known to sophisticated fans of modern office design, although just a few years ago her friends and relatives vying with each other to dissuade her from moving to Moscow. In Vladivostok, she studied to become a designer, took her first steps in the profession, and released a collection of ceramic tiles. The business trip decided everything: Anna immediately became imbued with the atmosphere and opportunities of the capital. She brought her main baggage to the capital - bold and unconventional ideas.

The furniture story for Anna Kharchenko began with the Hexagon table. “This is another competition project,” says the heroine. “At that time, I was a regular at design competitions to get my work noticed.”

The hexagon table never attracted the attention of the jury, but Anna was only motivated by the failures. The Hexagon prototype visited the Milan exhibition and received approval from the Italian public. A little later, Russian colleagues drew attention to the novice designer’s project. The Archpole company offered its production facilities for its implementation. A little later, the “Hexagon” collection became the main feature of the office of the architectural and production laboratory.

How it's done

Today, Hexagon includes desks for managers and employees, furniture for meeting rooms and receptions, coffee tables and stools, lamps and accessories. Anna is a powerful generator of ideas, so new items are regularly added to the collection.

The designer's endless experiments - with colors and materials. Hexagon tables are made of metal or birch plywood; solid oak is used for tabletops. Another option is an old board. “It was Archpole that was the first in Russia to use such wood. Not artificially aged, but old,” notes the designer.

Corian products are already a premium segment. Furniture made from artificial stone is produced at the Expromt enterprise in Cheboksary. Modern equipment helps craftsmen cut Corian. The stone is cut on a format cutting machine, and a CNC vertical milling machine works with complex shapes and edges.

For jewelry work - special saws and stone cutters. Particular attention is paid here to air temperature and humidity; the quality of the finished product depends on this. The next stage is the processing of grooves and small cutouts on a CNC machine and special profile cutters.

Next comes milling and processing of the stone with grinding machines.

Stone hexagon tables, like their wooden counterparts, have found their connoisseur - today there are “Hexagons” in office and residential interiors from Yakutia and Magadan to Vladivostok.

Recycling course

In parallel with the office furniture collection, the designer is developing two new stories. One of them is leather. “Scales is a product of my interest in eco-design, recycling and upcycling,” says Anna. – One day I saw that there were a lot of scraps of leather left at the Archpole production site. The idea to create leather planters was almost impromptu.”

Over time, the “Scales” series was expanded to include interior rugs, vases, baskets and pendant lamps. The hexagonal shape is reflected here too - items from the two collections harmonize well with each other. Geometric motifs were continued in the Loop project - a series of pots and benches made of Corian for public spaces. Stone products with ornate designs are produced at the same production facility in Cheboksary.

Anna Kharchenko plans to develop the topic of recycling. “Many people believe that a designer item is, first of all, beautiful and unusual. In fact, functionality and ergonomics are paramount. The design philosophy is also in the spotlight,” the heroine emphasizes. — For me it’s about preserving nature and its resources. That's why I'm looking for companies that, like Archpole, support and develop this idea. As practice shows, such cooperation always brings interesting results.”

Source: https://www.kuvalda.ru/blog/articles/zolotye_ruky/pravilnyy-shestiugolnik.html

Main characteristics

A hex bolt is a type of fastening tool, characterized by an internal head in the form of several edges. This allows it to be made with the same diameter as the main rod.

Such bolts are used in various fields:

the furniture sector is used to fasten several parts into one;
complete set of plumbing mechanisms. The hexagon can often be found on the mixer, which secures the main handle, etc.;

All types of such fasteners also have a peculiar division according to standard sizes. For each of them, a corresponding key is standardized, often having a curved shape in the form of the letter “G”.