Cutting Socket Cap Head SS Screws

[Flyinfool]

For small screws I usually use a pair of pliers (It will get real hot real fast) and a Dremel or die grinder with an abrasive cut off disk, ONLY use the discs that have the fiberglass reinforcing in them, not the brown thin exploding Dremel cutoff wheels that come in a bulk tube. I then dress the end on the grinder and the wire wheel.

Bigger sizes, 1/4 and up, I will use the lathe.

 

[extropic]

I need to cut down some 2-1/2" stainless steel socket cap head screws to 2-1/4".

I've never cut stainless steel before. What is the best way to do this? On the mill? How to hold this in the mill? I have V blocks but can't figure out how to hold them.

Note that I only have HSS tooling on my lathe.

How many is SOME? Different quantities will deserve different approaches.
You should have specified the diameter & thread also.

 

[devils4ever]

Three 10-32 screws of 18-8 stainless steel.

 

[benzflieger]

Did this last night...Cut off the bulk of the waste with a portaband. Faced off to final length and added chamfer on lathe. Pretty quick.


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[tonydi]

I must be missing something here. I built a little tool similar to a chop saw to hold small screws (#6 thru 1/4") and a Dremel w/cutoff wheel. But if I only had to shorten one of these screws a little bit I just use my little belt sander/sanding disc machine. I'd be done before you had clamped the screw in most of the suggested scenarios. But so many of you are avoiding this that it makes me think I'm missing something major.

 

[main_cogg]

I must be missing something here. I built a little tool similar to a chop saw to hold small screws (#6 thru 1/4") and a Dremel w/cutoff wheel. But if I only had to shorten one of these screws a little bit I just use my little belt sander/sanding disc machine. I'd be done before you had clamped the screw in most of the suggested scenarios. But so many of you are avoiding this that it makes me think I'm missing something major.

I don't think you're missing anything. I responded early on and made a bad assumption. The OP didn't state the size or quantity and I assumed he was cutting something over 1/4". It didn't dawn on me that he would be talking about 10-32`s.

 

[extropic]

Three 10-32 screws of 18-8 stainless steel.

How to shorten the screws depends on what you have to work with. There are more easy and reasonable ways to do it in my shop than I have energy to describe.

One quick and easy way (if you have the basic tools) is: Thread a coupling nut or a couple of regular hex nuts onto a screw so that you can hold it in a hand held electric drill. Grab the nut(s) with the chuck so you don't bugger up the threads. At 2.25" finished length, the screw probably doesn't have to be tight in the nut(s). Just let the screw head hit the back of the chuck. While spinning the screw, shorten it on an abrasive belt or disk machine. Finish by chamfering the screw end to remove any "feather" thread remnant.

 

[Boswell]

I just had to shorten four 2" long 4-40 Socket Head Cap Screws by 0.12". I just locked two nuts at so just the 0.12" was sticking out then holding with a vice grip I used my grinder to grind away what I did not need. Then removing the nuts helped to clean up the threads. Lots of ways to skin this cat. This happened to be the easiest way for me.

 

[addertooth]

For bolts that are small (4-40/6-32/8-32/10-32/10-24) they have an easy tool for this. Electronics folks have been using them for decades to cut bolts to a specific length. Screw in to desired length, chop, and the process of unscrewing it dresses the ends of the threads. Normally, I would run a file or a stone over NEW end of the threads.

 

[darkzero]

For screws too short to hold in the lathe, I use these things to hold the screws & just hit em on the belt sander. Cheap & sacrificial. I have the DRO coordinates recorded so they are quick & easy to make when I need more.