Resin bolt removal

SamT

SamT

Moderator
Just a quick one. I recall reading about (failed?) attempts to remove resin bolts using a blow torch to 'melt' the resin before pulling.

Thought it might have been on the JimTitt bolt products page, but can't see anything. Maybe on some of the cncc testing papers? Simons Earby Bolt pages?

Alas, after much googling, I've not come across anything.

Can anyone point me in the right direction (or did I dream it)
 
You're not imagining it, there are various mentions of blowtorching a bolt for ages to assist removal. Not tried myself though

There's a section about blowtorch removal of resin anchors in this page https://hownot2.com/blogs/bolting-bible/bolting-bible-book-of-pulling-out

However, all it says is

"...Glue, in theory, can be heated up with a blowtorch and then pulled out. We say theory because it’s really hard to get the glue 4” down or even further hot enough to become weak enough to remove easily. If you can get the bolt out, then you can drill out the remaining glue and reuse hole.

Try not to have too many flames next to your climbing ropes if you are hanging around while doing this! We have yet to be successful with this method..."
 
Seems it was on bolt-products.com
www.mountainproject.com

Techniques for removing glue in bolts

Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers.
www.mountainproject.com www.mountainproject.com

Although Jim Titt said this in 2014: "Regrettably with with most resins and bolts this doesn´t work, to satisfy the construction industry´s need for fire resistance the resins nowadays don´t soften with heat as easily as we would like. Even if a suitable resin was used stainless steel is a very poor conductor of heat so to get the bottom of the bolt hot takes a long time, a very long time if you are hanging on a rope on a breezy day!" (& other useful stuff)

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www.ukhillwalking.com
 
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Thanks Mike, Bolt-products was the first place I looked as I had it mind that's where I'd read it. I seem to recall a photo of a modified blow torch with a kind of paint pot esque cowl to cover the bolt head and keep the heat focused on the bolt head. Anyhow, thanks. (I'm trying to point out to someone elsewhere that blow torching is probably a dead loss. )
 
There's a DCA bolt-removal workshop in Horseshoe Quarry on the 27th June as part of the BCA weekend event, if you can get along?
 
I hadn't planned on trying the blowtorch method on the workshop, as I'd never heard of any successful examples of it being used. Also, I expect the fumes from modern resins would be rather unpleasant/unsafe(?) in a confined space. If you are interested in coming Sam, drop me a PM and I'll send the details.
I have just had a really cool looking TC core drill SDS bit delivered, and am keen to see how fast we can blunt it drilling out BP anchors in the testbed.
 
Also a thought to consider.
The squeeze in Winnats Head down to the static sump was desperately tight on the breakthrough trip.
We needed a way to enlarge it that was quite subtle due to our location within the choke..
Our solution was to heat the rock with a blow torch and then add water resulting in big chunks popping off.
Most of the effect was from the heat and then the cooling, but I wouldn't suggest a blow torch in a wet cave would be my first choice for a hole I wanted to re use
 
I've heard the theory - but never seen in real life. (Either that or it's so good I just haven't noticed it)

2 TCT cores where the internal diameter of one matches the external of the other. Bigger one used to cut a "biscuit" disk from another bit of similar rock. Smaller core used around the bolt. Then chop/bash out as much bolt as possible to leave below surface. Glue the biscuit into the hole with sympathetically coloured resin.

It's not removal... it's sweeping under the carpet, but it might be pretty discreet?
 
I also thought cavers had tried this historically and decided it didn't work and/or the fumes were bad

More recent video here:

 
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