Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Workshop Tip - How To Shorten Bolts The Easy Way

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Retro Steam Tech's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    122
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 239 Times in 58 Posts

    Retro Steam Tech's Tools

    Workshop Tip - How To Shorten Bolts The Easy Way


    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Retro Steam Tech For This Useful Post:

    desbromilow (Oct 21, 2021), lassab999 (Oct 22, 2021), Metallurg33 (Oct 21, 2021), mule68 (Oct 22, 2021), portstoold (Oct 24, 2021), Stevohdee (Oct 24, 2021), uv8452 (Oct 22, 2021), WmRMeyers (Oct 21, 2021)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member desbromilow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    801
    Thanks
    528
    Thanked 362 Times in 207 Posts

    desbromilow's Tools
    love the hand vice - never seen one with the second handle configuration

    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. #3
    WmRMeyers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    885
    Thanks
    405
    Thanked 372 Times in 254 Posts

    WmRMeyers's Tools
    I've got one of those with one handle, and one that has a tapered square drive, as to mount in an old carpenter's brace. May have to make a handle for the second one with two knobs on it. Looks very handy!

    Bill

  5. #4
    Supporting Member Retro Steam Tech's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    122
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 239 Times in 58 Posts

    Retro Steam Tech's Tools
    The hand vice was made by Millers Falls and although old they do pop up on ebay occasionally. I did a video on it some time ago.


  6. #5
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    May 2021
    Location
    Vancouver, Washington, USA
    Posts
    24
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
    Good tip for shortening screws. I do a similar routine, but with one minor difference. I try to use a higher grade of steel nut than the screw/bolt is made of, and unless there is a specific reason, I try to stick with a high strength carbon steel nut when I shorten stainless steel screws and bolts. as this helps to avoid galling and the male threads always look sharp (pun intended).

  7. #6
    Supporting Member Retro Steam Tech's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    122
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 239 Times in 58 Posts

    Retro Steam Tech's Tools
    That's an excellent idea too.

  8. #7
    katy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Red Deer Alberta
    Posts
    189
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 105 Times in 57 Posts

    katy's Tools
    I just use a simple hand tool, screw in the fastener in the appropriate hole, squeeze the handles, unscrew the fastener and it's done.
    Workshop Tip - How To Shorten Bolts The Easy Way-sk-crimper.jpg

  9. #8
    WmRMeyers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    885
    Thanks
    405
    Thanked 372 Times in 254 Posts

    WmRMeyers's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by katy View Post
    I just use a simple hand tool, screw in the fastener in the appropriate hole, squeeze the handles, unscrew the fastener and it's done.
    That is fine for the limited number of screws it will handle. Not so good if you have anything else. I have three or four of those, from several different makers, and some picked up overseas, and none of them do anything but 4-40, 6-32, 8-32, 10-24 & 10-32. In the past year, and I've not gotten all that much time in my shop in this time, I've also run into 8-36, and 1/4-25, and several smaller metric screws, plus some more microscope screw holes I've not managed to figure out yet. Anyone working on antique American or Japanese sewing machines, for example, will need a bunch more, too. Retro's method will work for anything you have or can make a nut for.

    Bill

  10. #9
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,537
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,565 Times in 2,162 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by WmRMeyers View Post
    That is fine for the limited number of screws it will handle. Not so good if you have anything else. I have three or four of those, from several different makers, and some picked up overseas, and none of them do anything but 4-40, 6-32, 8-32, 10-24 & 10-32. In the past year, and I've not gotten all that much time in my shop in this time, I've also run into 8-36, and 1/4-25, and several smaller metric screws, plus some more microscope screw holes I've not managed to figure out yet. Anyone working on antique American or Japanese sewing machines, for example, will need a bunch more, too. Retro's method will work for anything you have or can make a nut for.

    Bill
    Not to mention that if you had one of those with holes for 1/4 and larger screws you would need a 400 pound gorilla to squeeze the handles for you.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Failure is just success in progress
    That looks about right - Mediocrates

  11. #10
    WmRMeyers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    885
    Thanks
    405
    Thanked 372 Times in 254 Posts

    WmRMeyers's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by mklotz View Post
    Not to mention that if you had one of those with holes for 1/4 and larger screws you would need a 400 pound gorilla to squeeze the handles for you.
    Isn't that why God made hammers?

    Bill

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •