Shortening small bolts easily.

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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 Attached ImagesBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:That looks a lot saner than the way I always do itI'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"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply: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!Member, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoThe 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!
Reply:Hacksaw and a file (1/2 round or knife) to touch up the threads.  A lathe would be nice!David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply: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.
Reply: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.
Reply:I usually bite mine off....
Reply: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.
Reply: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.
Reply: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. Tim Beeker.
Reply:Originally Posted by jdom5274I 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.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThat looks a lot saner than the way I always do itI'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
Reply:Originally Posted by OldtimerIf they are short I hold them with vice grips to save my fingers.
Reply: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.
Reply:Originally Posted by dr stanThat's a good way to loose the bolt and have the grinder send it flying back at you.
Reply: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.Miller 250DXTD Cutmaster 100Duct TapeBFH
Reply:Originally Posted by Blackcypress-EBI 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.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldordieNow, 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.
Reply: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.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.