Best Tool for Cutting Screws

[rhr1956]

After installing several pieces of hardware to the cabin top, I need to cut off the excess length of the stainless bolts in the cabin. What tool would be the best?

[sww914]

A dremel tool with a cutoff wheel.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

After installing several pieces of hardware to the cabin top, I need to cut off the excess length of the stainless bolts in the cabin. What tool would be the best?

Hacksaw or angle grinder or angle grinder with cut-off disc.
Are you trying to do this in-situ?
Usually best to mark the right length during the dry fit up stage, then cut (and finish / polish the cut end) after dismantling before the final assembly.

[Target9000]

Yeah, you don't want to chop one of the bolts and mutilate the end so you cannot get the nut on or off. Might want to have a tap and die set around just in case along with something to polish up the ends.

[btrayfors]

Keep it simple: a Dremel tool with cutoff wheel will do the job fast and cleanly. No problem with getting nuts on or off.

Be sure to wear eye protection.

Bill

[Wotname]

Just what diameter are these bolts?

[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.

[sdowney717]

If you use a rotary tool like a dremel, hold a vacuum hose up next the flying bits so they go in the vac and not all over the boat deck. put the hose where the bits will fly off as the cutting disc spins.

afterwards flush the deck thoroughly with nitric acid to pacify the SS so it wont cause rusty bits all over the surface to show.

[minaret]

Can't believe so many of you use a dremel. No horsepower at all, I can stop one with my bare fingers. And all the bits are 1/8" shaft, which means the cutoff discs and others break much too easily because 1/8" shaft accessories are made for hobbyists and homeowners. You can buy an industrial 1/4" shaft die grinder in pneumatic or electric for substantially less than a dremel, and it is a vastly better tool with ten times the horsepower and many thousands of industrial strength bits easily available. Just my two cents as someone who wouldn't own a dremel.

[sdowney717]

Originally Posted by minaret

Can't believe so many of you use a dremel. No horsepower at all, I can stop one with my bare fingers. And all the bits are 1/8" shaft, which means the cutoff discs and others break much too easily because 1/8" shaft accessories are made for hobbyists and homeowners. You can buy an industrial 1/4" shaft die grinder in pneumatic or electric for substantially less than a dremel, and it is a vastly better tool with ten times the horsepower and many thousands of industrial strength bits easily available. Just my two cents as someone who wouldn't own a dremel.

buy reinforced discs dremel sized, they last and last. There are some non reinforced nasty cheap lousy discs that snap so easily.

[s/v Jedi]

I would prefer the Fein Multimaster for this but could do with a Dremel with fiberglass reinforced cut-off disk (you see the fibers in the disk and it's way larger than the toy cut-off wheels that are in the kits).

ciao!
Nick.

[rhr1956]

They are 1/4" stainless.

[rhr1956]

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

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

If you use a rotary tool like a dremel, hold a vacuum hose up next the flying bits so they go in the vac and not all over the boat deck. put the hose where the bits will fly off as the cutting disc spins.

afterwards flush the deck thoroughly with nitric acid to pacify the SS so it wont cause rusty bits all over the surface to show.

I believe the OP is doing this inside the cabin!

An aside, am I the only left in the world using a hacksaw, files and some wet dry paper? In this instance I would use my Bahco junior hacksaw with a 6" 32 TPI metal cutting blade.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by minaret

Can't believe so many of you use a dremel. No horsepower at all, I can stop one with my bare fingers. And all the bits are 1/8" shaft, which means the cutoff discs and others break much too easily because 1/8" shaft accessories are made for hobbyists and homeowners. You can buy an industrial 1/4" shaft die grinder in pneumatic or electric for substantially less than a dremel, and it is a vastly better tool with ten times the horsepower and many thousands of industrial strength bits easily available. Just my two cents as someone who wouldn't own a dremel.

As with anything: there are good and bed versions of a dremel too. I have used incredibly cheapo harbor freight ones that were't worth their weight as a fishing sinker, and I have also used the name brand with the remote cable and it was very nice indeed.