Cutting small stainless bolt

[bluedog225]

Is there a preferred or easy way to cut a small (#10) stainless bolt flush with the nut. I can use the dremel but I don't want to melt the nylon in the lock nut.

I've got a big pair of wire snippers but that would probably deform the end so taking them off (ever) would be an issue.

I'll need to file smooth either way.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Tom

[TerryLL]

Hacksaw?

[bluedog225]

Thanks. Hacksaw would work but very slow and small cramped space. And there are 24 of them.....:( And it's hot, hot, out these days.

I may try to find some bolt "freeze" and use the dremel.

[John B]

vicegrips, wiggle, it'll break off flush.

[Thorne]

Reciprocating saw with fresh metal-cutting blades -- just cut several large galvanized bolts today that way for my boat trailer. Leave plenty of clearance for the tip to go back and forth, otherwise you'll mar the wood and possibly hurt yourself in that cramped space.

[pipefitter]

vicegrips, wiggle, it'll break off flush.

Yes. And if you want to be extra sure it breaks off flush, score it flush with the nut with a hacksaw and then break it off back and forth with vice grips.

[Ian Marchuk]

Walter abrasives have a line of Zip wheels as small as 3" in dia. and .045 thick.
Mounted on an inexpensive 1/4" drive mandrel in a die grinder (mandrel available at most tool supply stores ), they would make short work of cutting them off. A deep score an a twist off would do the job as well. It may be worth the trouble to experiment with a fastener mounted in a bench vise , to see how much heat build up there is. After cooling unthread the nylock nut to see if there is a noticable difference in locking power. Even if the "nylon" locking softened when hot, after cooling there may be very little difference if any.
I have some 1/4" to 1/2" s/s fasteners and nylocks in the shop. In the am I'll muck about with this and fill you in on the results...
G'nite all...

[bluedog225]

As always, very helpful. Thanks all. Sounds like the score and snap may be the way to go.

Regards

Tom

[MiddleAgesMan]

I've always used the wiggle-break method for small stuff. You will probably have a thread or two distorted a little during the process but removing the nut one time straightens the threads just fine. Just make sure everything is nice and tight so you don't get any movement below the nut.

[George Ray]

Wiggle-break works GREAT for CRS, if the bolt is solidly held and the wiggle won't hurt/deform anything else. If you don't want the break 100% flush then stack another nut on before breaking, maybe touch with file/grinder after wiggle-break and then back off the second nut.

[oznabrag]

Heya Bluedog.

Gimme a shout back channel, and I'll set you up with a die grinder for the afternoon.

If you're worried about melting the Nylon, you can always apply a small punch to the ends of the threads afterwards.

[JimConlin]

This tool will cut 10-24 stainless machine screws. Only a little file cleanup is needed.
http://www.cnaweb.com/productimages/84-838.jpg
It isn't easy and I don't expect the tool to last long, but the tool is cheap. I'd like to find one with more leverage.

[bluedog225]

Use a DISC GRINDER and you can skip the file...

Since you have so many to cut off, why didnt you use the right length to start with?

Went to the specialty shop in town , handed him the bolt and ask for 30 stainless at 1.75 inches or better. He asked "metric or standard?" I replied, "don't know." He says "It helps if you have a clue." one, two, three, four.....

They were jackasses the last time I went in as well and it had been 10 years. He only had it in a longer length and I didn't feel like taking the bait. I think they want to discourage individual sales and cater to businesses only.

[Ian Marchuk]

For crying out loud Gary.....walking away shaking my head

[Salty Sailor]

You were on the right track to start with.
The dremel with cutting disc would do a tidy quick job of it..
You can still score it with this then rock it until it breaks or go for the clean cut.
If your worried about heat put a drop of water on it to keep it cool..

[oznabrag]

Went to the specialty shop in town (Austin Bolt Company), handed him the bolt and ask for 30 stainless at 1.75 inches or better. He asked "metric or standard?" I replied, "don't know." He says "It helps if you have a clue." one, two, three, four.....

They were jackasses the last time I went in as well and it had been 10 years. He only had it in a longer length and I didn't feel like taking the bait. I think they want to discourage individual sales and cater to businesses only.


Hey Bluedog. Don't be goin' off on my boys down at Austin Bolt, now. I have walked into that place needing a 1/4-20 connector and nothing more, and been out of there with a smile and a wave in about 7 minutes.

Those guys serve the maintenance and prototype crowd of which you must consider yourself a member! You're building a what!?

A Boat?

Holy Josephine!

Hey, Ramon! This guy wants to build a boat!

It doesn't really cost them any more to fill your order than some prototype geek from Dell, unless you are really poorly informed, and make it THEIR job to inform you, all the while protesting that you have to be informed.

Give these guys a break, dude, they'll make it up to you a hundred-fold over the years! They've seen every, sold every, tested and behold every fastener solution known to Central Texas, and they want to give you whatever permutation of the particular parthenogenesis your problem may propose, but know what the hell you want to screw to what before you show up. There's usually a line! :)

I don't know, man. I've been dealing with the 'Will Call' dock para muchos años, mi amigo, and all those guys ever want is to clock out on Friday and go home and take a run at the Missus. :D

Figure out what you need (or what you need advice about), and it will be a whole lot better than Fastenal. :D:D:D

Other than that, if you need a die-grinder give me a shout, I wanna float as many boats as I can possibly get away with!

[bluedog225]

Peace.

Guilty as charged. I was not prepared. I only had a sample bolt.

I don't have a thread pattern gauge at home to distinguish between metric and standard.

I have deleted the company name. If you will do the same, we need never speak of this again.

Tom

[oznabrag]

Naw, man! No guilt involved, nor any rancor on my part! We can still be friends and all. ;)

I have had negative experiences at many industrial suppliers, but overall, it is a matter of attitude on MY part that makes those places so much fun.

Those old counter men can spot a small-time greenhorn a mile away, so the recipe for success is to walk in at a known slow time (2:30 PM works pretty well in most of these types of place) saying "I'm a small-time greenhorn! I have all the info I have. If I need more info, lemme know, so I can get out of your hair and go get it. I know you guys are doing me a favor to entertain my business, I wanna make this as painless as I can!"

Employing that last line (they're doing you a favor) can be tricky. A lot of those guys just don't want to deal with you (the small-time greenhorn) to begin with, and if you throw in any hint of obsequy, you just hit a stone wall. Like I say, all they really want out of life is the security of their jobs and another run at the Wife. :D

So, yeah man, I think I'll leave Austin Bolt on the board. Come to think of it, Brazos Forest Products and The Weatherford Company deserve a mention also, along with Fine Lumber, Capital Bearing, etc., etc. :)

I hope to meet you someday soon, Tom.

Onward! Through the Fog!