Best Tool for Cutting Screws

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

They are 1/4" stainless.

Ahh... baby sized... just a decent nick either side with a hacksaw and snap off with vise grips.

Originally Posted by rhr1956

I was thinking of holding up a wet towel to make a curtain to catch debris as my buddy cuts.

Get your buddy to dress files the ends while you open the beers

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Ahh... baby sized... just a decent nick either side with a hacksaw and snap off with vise grips.

Get your buddy to dress files the ends while you open the beers

Sounds good to me! Less mess, less work, same result.

Good one, Wotname... but the Dremel fans won't like you!

Cheers,

Jim

[sabray]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Ahh... baby sized... just a decent nick either side with a hacksaw and snap off with vise grips.

Get your buddy to dress files the ends while you open the beers

Another thumbs up for that. Works a charm. Pivot the vice grips don't yank on the bolt .

[Cheechako]

Vise grips. Attach a little away from the nut and bend back and forth. Piece of cake. Done hundreds that way. The nuts come off believe it or not!

[Opie91]

+1 for the vice grip as long as the bolt sticking out of the nut is long enough............

[David_Old_Jersey]

If you put the nut on before cutting then even if the cut is not great the nut will usually cut it's way past any burs. In any event, backing the nut up and filing the cut edges will do the trick (obviously if already fitted and want flush bolts then gonna be **** outta luck on that - but if it's on already not coming off don't matter!

Me uses a handheld hacksaw, if access limited can use a padsaw handle or simply hands (don't slip!)......but of course I don't cut a lot of stainless steel!

[osirissail]

There are other manufacturers of tools similar to the Dremel tool and these tools are much sturdier and more powerful. Dremels just don't seem to last.

But Roto-Zip makes and sells "bits" for such tools and one of the bits is a carbide bit shown below. It can eat its way through stainless screws and bolts to shorten them. It is not fast and you cannot put too much pressure on the tool bit as it will snap off. But with practice it has become my favorite tool and bit to work with stainless screws and bolts that are too long. Also good for rounding off the pointy end of stainless sheet metal screws.

[donradcliffe]

If you have a bunch of bolts to cut off, go with the 4" angle grinder with a cutoff wheel--10 times faster than the Dremel. HOWEVER, those suckers are going to be HOT when they fall off, and will burn right through your cushion covers (don't ask me how I know).

[SailFastTri]

Your question reminds me of this story

how not to redo your boat

[Blue Stocking]

If you use the Dremel, insert the armature shaft thru the bottom of a clear plastic cup, cut off to length you need.
Cuttings stay in the cup. Use this on any overhead work, drilling etc.

[David M]

A 4 inch Makita works for me.

[bobconnie]

A well sharpend half flat chisel will do the job quick and easy with a single pop with a good sized hammer !! Just an old way to do things, but no special tools needed !! It's what I would use !

[xymotic]

Just make sure you do it properly: Wearing your Mickey Mouse hard-hat and blasting the Banjo music. Safety first people!

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Dremel tool with the black cutoff wheel, not the cheap red-brown ones. Do wear goggles for this, you've got metal dust and a possible broken wheel all able to get in your eyes. And of course, if you hold a pan or bowl under each one as you cut, there's less mess to clean out of the bilge or foul the bilge pump.

That's a good tip and I give another vote for the Dremel tool, although I've used a small grinder for this job, it's sub-par because you can heat up the bolt to a a bright orange via friction and you really don't want that in a plastic boat or with foam cushions within the arc of spark.

Semi-related tip: When servicing winches on coamings, cut a circle in a cardboard box, taller than the winch on all sides, the same diameter and the winch base. When you disassemble the winch, the pawls and springs will go into the box, and not into the drink. It confines the green grease residues, as well.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Opie91

+1 for the vice grip as long as the bolt sticking out of the nut is long enough............

Yeah, I learned early on in building a couple of boats to just buy long screws, trying to figure out the perfect length, runing back and for to the Screw Company etc. Buy 'em long, break em off. Piece of cake. If they are going to be visible, put an acorn nut on afterwards....