How the heck do I remove this old loo seat? Rust!

[bellabelly]

Am so frustrated! Have bought shiny new loo seat, went to take old one off and the screw and wingnuts are rusted solid. I can't shift it. DH had a go last night (mainly bashing at it with a hammer which seemed like a terrible idea, tbh) - didn't work.

I've sprayed it repeatedly with WD40 silicon spray - now feeling slightly high on the fumes - and have tried twisting it by hand, gripping with pliers and really giving it some welly but it's just not shifting.

I had a quick google and looked on youtube too but all the ideas on there seem to involve power tools that I don't have , blowtorches etc.

Please, wise mn diy-ers, if you have any tips, please share. I don't want to be defeated by a toilet seat!

Been there loo seat was broken but could no remove the bugger as the screws were corroded ended up sawing the head off the screws ( not before buying WD40, pliers etc) the relief was huge. At one stage I was considering replacing the whole loo too

you can cut the finials off with your hacksaw.

what is the name of that WD40? It might be a rust preventer, not remover

"Plus Gas" is the best penetrating fluid for rusted parts. A can will last more than a lifetime.

It's this stuff, Piglet J I really hope it works! Still waiting for delivery...

bellabelly

I hope that stuff works, and would be interested to know what added ingredients it has over normal WD40, which is basically just petrol.

Hasn't arrived yet - will have a look at ingredients when it does. On the amazon link, it says " Containing Blu TorchTM Technology, a proprietary blend of synthetic additives" which sounds exciting / baffling!

I don't think it will state the magic ingredient(s) - it does say it's completely biodegradable so it's probably just a variation on the 90% hydrocarbons that comprises standard WD40, or maybe with added acetone?

Seriously Bella just get a little metal saw and saw the head off the screw. I spent 2 weeks and £££ grappling with the same problem and it was the only thing that worked but if the WD40 thing you have ordered let us know

the Water Displacing lube in WD40 is often said to be fish oil, but this is false.

They deny that it contains White Spirit (Stoddards Solvent) but it does seem to be made up of mineral oil derivatives.

www.wired.com/2009/04/st-whatsinside-6/

Investors Chronicle says that the formula can be duplicated by other manufacturers, but the consumer goes for the familiar brand and is willing to pay extra for it. A newcomer to the trade would also have to get a distribution network and convince retailers that there was some benefit to them in stocking it. Sadly a lower price would make consumers think that it was an inferior product. A bit like the way people pay a premium price for well known brands of sugared fizzy water and give them a self-perpetuating enormous profit and enormous marketing budget.

You can actually buy WD40 in 5-litre packs and decant it into trigger-spray bottles of your own. I have one.

The anti-rust stuff arrived today! I'm going to give it a go tomorrow! The instructions are all in Italian! Grrr!

Dremel as said above but usually wd40 and a large adjustable spanner that goes over both the wing nuts for more leverage does the trick . The extra leverage will either undo it or snap it off . Both ways it’s off 👍

Looks like your just going to have to sell up and buy a house which has a good toilet seat 😊

After 7 years I suspect the problem has been resolved.