Stuck bolts are probably the biggest nuisance in a garage. Good thing is, induction heaters like Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductor exist.
Both heaters are pretty similar, but there are some differences too. Build and design, ease of use, price, and availability are the major differences between them.
Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductor have pretty much changed the game for stuck bolts. Both are really good at their jobs, but which one should you pick if you can only go with one of them?
Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
A Quick Summary of Comparison
| Feature | Bolt Buster | Mini-Ductor |
| Build and design | Slightly bulky, more coils and tools | Sleek, fewer coils and tools |
| Ease of use | Tricky to use in small spaces | Small space friendly |
| Price and availability | More affordable | Less affordable |
And that’s the gist of it, keep reading below for the detailed breakdown!
Key Differences Between Bolt Buster And Mini-Ductor
Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductor- both have their own benefits. But the thing is, they’re really similar too. But they aren’t identical, so you’ll definitely find some differences between them.
Build and design, ease of use, price, and availability are the major differences between Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductors. Here’s how these factors make these induction heaters different.
- Build And Design
This is the most visible difference between Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductors.
Bolt Busters are like straight pipes while Mini-Ductors usually have an angled head. Mini-Ductors are also sleeker.
Bolt Buster looks slightly old-fashioned. It is a straight nozzle-looking device and comes with 9 coil inclusions.
You can bend the coils and reach a lot of tight corners. This is honestly the biggest appeal of induction heaters.
Mini-Ductors are built differently. The main body itself is sleeker and usually comes with an angled head. This is supposed to help with reaching tight corners.
They usually come with 3 coils (depending on the model) but you can buy extra coils separately.
- Ease of Use
This is where the real differences come out. Bolt Buster is really easy to work with. It heats up very fast and keeps the heat more compressed.
That means if you’re trying to heat up a bolt, you won’t have to worry about the whole nearby surface getting hot too.
The only problem with Bolt Buster is its bulky design. Sure, you can bend the coils for convenience, but sometimes you can’t get tight spots because of how bulky the body is.
Mini-Ductors are slightly better in this case. The angled heads and sleeker body already makes them more convenient.
You put the convenience of bending the coils with this and it suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.
- Price And Availability
Prices are pretty close for both heaters, but you have to consider the inclusions too. Bolt Buster comes with 9 inclusions and is pretty easy to get your hands on.
The price point is usually around $380, it can change depending on where you live and who your dealer is.
Mini-Ductors aren’t exactly on the “affordable” shelf. The price point for them is $400-$500 depending on where you live (and your dealer, of course).
Finding them is also harder, which is probably why it is pricier. Mini-Ductors come with 3 inclusions (depending on the model).
Which One Should You Go With?
And here comes the hard part of the whole thing. As you know now, both heaters are very close in a side-by-side comparison.
They’re almost like twins so making comparison factors between them is hard enough. Picking one from these two? That’s definitely harder.
So there really is no straight answer to this question.
But that doesn’t mean you have to stay confused.
You can definitely pick one from them, the choice will depend on your preference.
But if you’re more inclined to make an objective decision, you’ll have to do some serious this or that calculation.
One way of doing that is to figure out what you want from your heater. Once you get that down, you can just go with the option that checks the most boxes on your list.
If you’re okay with something with a bulkier build and the fact that it will need a little extra work to reach tight corners, go with Bolt Buster.
It is pretty much a cult classic and for good reason too. Bolt Buster has more inclusions and is easier to find. Plus the price tag on it is much more affordable which is a bonus.
The only problem is the wiggle room. Since the heater itself is straight and bulky, you might have to wiggle more to reach some corners.
But once you see what that 1800-watt can do, this will pretty much melt away.
If you’re okay with splurging and want something that can reach pretty much everywhere, definitely go for the Mini-Ductor. It has fewer coils and inclusions but you can buy them separately.
The angled build gives you extra reach and the sleekness makes it easier to work with. The only problem is that Mini-Ductors are kind of hard to find.
Overall, Bolt Buster is the better choice here. But if you want something more convenient and don’t mind fewer inclusions, Mini-Ductor is a really good option too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are a bunch of questions people usually ask about Bolt Buster, Mini-Ductors, and inductive heaters in general.
Bolt Buster is used to loosen up rusty and stuck bolts. It is mostly used in places where using direct fire is dangerous.
Mini-Ductors are used to loosen up rusty bolts in risky places.
Yes, you can use a mini-Ductor for any aluminum component that is stuck.
That depends on your personal preference, but Venom and the original Mini-Ductor 2 are leading contenders.
Final Verdict
Inductive heaters are much more convenient than torches. This is why people lean towards Bolt Buster or Mini-Ductors.
As for the Bolt Buster and Mini-Ductor comparison, there is no straight answer. Bolt Buster is objectively the better choice. But if you’re looking for something sleeker, feel free to go with Mini-Ductors.
