Shortening small bolts easily.

[aametalmaster]

Maybe some of you already knew this tip. I bought some small SHCS and they were about 1/8" too long. So i made up a small sleeve and slipped the bolt thru the hole and put a nut on. After it was tightened i chucked it up and cut it with my lathe tool, then touched with a file. It left a perfect thread that screwed in my project nicely and my fingers didn't get burned using a grinder...Bob

[farmersamm]

That looks a lot saner than the way I always do it

I'm always in a bigazz hurry, and put the nut on, then cut it with a razor wheel mounted on the grinder. Then I back the nut off the bolt to "rethread" where I cut it. Sometimes I have one hell of a time gettin' the nut back on It USUALLY works

[Mondo]

The next time I need to shorten a small bolt by 1/8" of an inch I'll go buy myself a LaBlonde lathe.

Nice tip, though!

[Oldtimer]

Originally Posted by Mondo

The next time I need to shorten a small bolt by 1/8" of an inch I'll go buy myself a LaBlonde lathe.

Nice tip, though!

Hey, that will work. I usually just saw them off with a hacksaw if they are 5/8" or less and grind a starting thread on 'em with a fine cut wheel on the bench grinder. If they are short I hold them with vice grips to save my fingers.

[David R]

Hacksaw and a file (1/2 round or knife) to touch up the threads. A lathe would be nice!

David

[tapwelder]

My technique is similar to aametal', though I don't usually use a lathe. Shortening and dressing before backing it out of the nut or die straightens the threads and provides a nice cutting guage. I cut it with whatever is handy.

I go that technique from one of those pbs woodworking shows. They had a board set up with various nuts mounted to it They ran the screw through from the opposite side of the board hacksawed it off then backed it out.

[Oldiron2]

When it's a short socket-head bolt like that, I usually can just chuck the bolt by the head and take a light cut so as to not deform the bolt head. For hex heads (which aren't always that symmetrical), I often just turn them into some long nuts and chuck the nuts, though then I need to reverse the spindle travel to keep the bolt from unscrewing, taking the cut from the bottom instead.

[minner]

I usually bite mine off....

[ironman715]

Portaband, or band saw, hack saw if nothing else is available and a file or grinder to touch it up. Has never failed me....yet.

[jdom5274]

I use a method taught to me by a toolmaker when I was an apprentice. Get a matching nut for the screw / bolt and cut a slot inwards from one flat to the thread. Run the modified nut up the screw to the length required and clamp the nut in a bench vise. Cut off the excess threads and dress with a file. You can do the same thing in the bench lathe if you have one available. It makes for a nicer job and the split in the nut gives good gripping on the threads. I have made several for each thread size I run into and reuse often. Works everytime.

[tnjind]

I just tighten the heck out of it til it bottoms out then it magically twists off! Of course the bolt and hole are now junk. But i seem to do that more often then I should.

[farmersamm]

Originally Posted by jdom5274

I use a method taught to me by a toolmaker when I was an apprentice. Get a matching nut for the screw / bolt and cut a slot inwards from one flat to the thread. Run the modified nut up the screw to the length required and clamp the nut in a bench vise. Cut off the excess threads and dress with a file. You can do the same thing in the bench lathe if you have one available. It makes for a nicer job and the split in the nut gives good gripping on the threads. I have made several for each thread size I run into and reuse often. Works everytime.

That's neat. You made the nut into a collet. Thanks for the info

[Magnetic Mechanic]

Originally Posted by farmersamm

That looks a lot saner than the way I always do it

I'm always in a bigazz hurry, and put the nut on, then cut it with a razor wheel mounted on the grinder. Then I back the nut off the bolt to "rethread" where I cut it. Sometimes I have one hell of a time gettin' the nut back on It USUALLY works

after cutting, grind or cut a lead on the screw at 60º

[dr stan]

Originally Posted by Oldtimer

If they are short I hold them with vice grips to save my fingers.

That's a good way to loose the bolt and have the grinder send it flying back at you.

[Weldordie]

When I had to shorten some small screws, I grabbed a foot-long piece of scrap 1/4" thick flat, and drilled and tapped to fit the screws. Then, I ran each screw through to the desired length, and held it to my grinding wheel to remove the excess. And, yes, I did have to hold the head of the screw with a screwdriver to keep the screw from turning while against the wheel.

[daddy]

Originally Posted by dr stan

That's a good way to loose the bolt and have the grinder send it flying back at you.

dr stan,
You must have some mighty strong fingers to hold onto a bolt tighter than Oldtimer can with a set of vice grips.

[Blackcypress-EB]

I have a piece of 1/8"x3/4" strap about six inches long with the normal increments of thread sizes drilled into it from 3/16 to 1/2. I screw the victim into the strap and use it as a handle. I grind the bolt on my 72" grinder with a 36 or 60 grit belt, cool if necessary, then bevel like Mag Mech illustrated with the fine wheel on my bench grinder. No heat on the hands and I have good control. I can zip one out in no time. I am not fortunate enough to own a lathe though. I sure wish I had one sometimes.

[Weldordie]

Originally Posted by Blackcypress-EB

I have a piece of 1/8"x3/4" strap about six inches long with the normal increments of thread sizes drilled into it from 3/16 to 1/2. I screw the victim into the strap and use it as a handle. I grind the bolt on my 72" grinder with a 36 or 60 grit belt, cool if necessary, then bevel like Mag Mech illustrated with the fine wheel on my bench grinder. No heat on the hands and I have good control. I can zip one out in no time. I am not fortunate enough to own a lathe though. I sure wish I had one sometimes.

Now, I've gotta start drillin' and tappin' sum mo. A 72" grinder... is that the total length of the belt, or the length from roller to roller? Sounds like it would be just about right for sharpening iceboat blades.

[Blackcypress-EB]

Originally Posted by Weldordie

Now, I've gotta start drillin' and tappin' sum mo. A 72" grinder... is that the total length of the belt, or the length from roller to roller? Sounds like it would be just about right for sharpening iceboat blades.

That is the length of the belt. There are many different attachments for them to grind flat or concave and so on. Companies like KMG and Bader are popular. They aren't cheap, but definitely versatile for any grinding needs. There are shorter less expensive rigs than the 72" that are made by craftsman and similar companies that might get what you need done for less.

[specter]

Well I use the same process that Sam described above and then taper the end at which point I back off the nut over the finished end. I always make sure that the nut is a couple of grades harder than the bolt.