Daughter sent me this article on induction heaters. I am aware of induction heating for cooking and industrial applications but not for home DIYs.
Anyone use one of these?

Ditch the Torch and Use Induction Heat to Break Free Rusted Bolts

Focused heat helps to remove stubborn hardware, safely.

Heat. For years it’s been a mainstay in the mechanic’s repertoire for unsticking stuck things. From rusted nuts and bolts to pieces that once slipped smoothly together, there isn’t much a torch can’t fix. There are, unfortunately, a lot of things a torch can burn to a crisp. Trying to protect those things while directing a blazing torch can be a challenge—I’d be lying if I said I never set anything alight using a torch.

Not long ago, I was trying to replace rubber body mounts on my truck and encountered multiple frozen body mount bolts. Using a torch to heat up those bolts enough to get them free was near impossible without setting the rubber bushings on fire. Referring to YouTube, to see if there were any tricks to completing this job, I found someone using an induction heater to get the bolts free. I had seen these devices before, but not in a handheld version.

Some quick research revealed that they were available on , weren’t all that expensive, and could arrive as soon as the next day. There were a bunch of options to chose from and they all looked basically the same, although at varying prices. I settled on the for $180. It was also available with a for $216.

I also found a more expensive version of the same type of tool, the . By the specs, the Bolt Buster has a lot more power than the model I got, and If I was still working as a mechanic, I would have chosen it instead. But, judging by the reviews it seemed like the Solary Induction Heater would work for what I was doing—and, because it would arrive the next day, I could finish the job and use my truck.

How Induction Heaters Work

A high frequency, alternating current (AC) is passed through a coil to create an electromagnetic field. Eddy currents occur in an item placed within the field, or coil, provided they are comprised of electrically conductive materials. The friction generated by these eddy currents provides focused, non-contact heating.

For my project, the Solary Magnetic Induction Heater kit I ordered, worked as described. I was able to heat and remove the stubborn body mount bolts on my truck relatively easily. It did take a little longer than the 30 seconds advertised, but they were large bolts, and they heated up enough to break loose. Since then I’ve used it a couple times, testing it on various sized rusty nuts and bolts—and it’s really kind of surprising how well it actually works. The best thing is that I don’t need to use a torch around things that it could cause problems, like wiring harnesses, fuel tanks, or brake lines. While it’s not a tool you’ll likely use every day, it is one that can get you out of a bind with seized hardware.

 

I have one. They work as advertised. A bit pricey, but good for heating up bolts when you can't use a torch.

 

Thanks for the reminder Jim. I was aware that this tools are around, but they where very expensive. But it seems that they are now available for around 200 Dollar/euro, wich is the price range of hobby mechanic tools.

 

Worth it for what they do, especially if you're not in the mood to try and angle a torch to hit a bolt. The torch is still faster and will probably be what you grab in 99% of instances since you don't have to wait for the coil to get hot and then transfer the heat into the bolt, but Dino is right that it's great for those hard to reach bolts.

 

It’s definitely saved me before. I recommend it…was much easier and safer than a torch