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Author Topic: how do you cut screws?  (Read 1120 times)

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Offline bluebayou

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how do you cut screws?
« on: April 22, 2007, 09:23:35 AM »
I made a scope mount for an SKS.  I drilled and tapped the receiver.  I am getting frustrated trying to cut 6-32 screws to the correct length.  The are hard to hold (I started clamping them to a piece of wood with some ViseGrips) and hard to cut.  I am using a Dremel with cutoff wheels.  I cut two out of four to the right length.  Is there some kind of trick? 
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2007, 09:39:39 AM »
If the screw is long enough, run a nut on it first, use the nut in the vise to hold the screw, then run the nut off the screw and it will clean the threads up. Not really an option on real short screws tho.

Tim
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Offline bluebayou

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2007, 10:03:48 AM »
Crap.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2007, 10:05:37 AM »
 ???
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Offline shermbob

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2007, 10:09:09 AM »
quickdtoo  maybe the answer was to easy
shermbob
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2007, 11:36:09 AM »
I took a 1"x3" bit of annealed spring stock 1/8" thick, drilled & tapped it for the common small screw sizes like 6x32, 6x48, 8x32, 8x40, 10x24 and 10x32.  I stamped the size of each hole, then heated & quenched it and drew down like a proper spring.  I can clamp that in the vise to hold a screw for cutting, hold it in hand to grind the cut end flat with the belt sander, or rotate the screw while grinding to get a tapered start on the screw. It is one of my most useful tools and cost me about fifty cents and an hour to make it.
  My question would be "why are you using 6x32 screws to mount a scope", 6x48 or 8x40 are the standard and for good reason.
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Offline bluebayou

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2007, 01:42:37 PM »
The answer was too easy, Quick, just using the nut.........well, crap.  Thanks for the simple solution.

I used the 6-32 screw because I need to fit inside an old discarded one piece Weaver base that I had and didn't have any proper screws.  I just wanted to keep all the screws the same size for aesthetic reasons. 

Not to be reactionary but, what difference does it make what size screws that I use to put a piece of angle stock on an SKS anyway?  Your idea of make a screw guide is pretty brilliant too, there coyotejoe.  I will study on that too.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2007, 01:55:56 PM »
Glad ya got it worked out, that's all that matters!!  ;) My Dad taught me that trick about 50yrs ago when I worked for him and my Grand dad in their auto repair shop, it's  always worked for me IF I had a nut that fit the screw, that might be a bit of a problem with a 6-48 or 8-40, dunno if I ever had a nut that size! Joe's method would be the answer to that, just make your own!!! :D

Tim
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Offline Keith L

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2007, 02:37:29 PM »
For common coarse and fine thread from 4-40-10-32 most electrical wire multipurpose tools (cutter, stripper, crimper) have screw cutters built in.  You can thread the screw in one side, then when you close the plier you cut the screw.  Two problems: not sized right for many gun screws and not so good on the tool to cut hardened screws.
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2007, 04:49:41 AM »
Bluebayou, the reason I'd not use a 6x32 screw is that the common screws from the hardware store are soft, easily strip or twist off. The 6x48s are gun screws, good steel, well cut threads and properly heat treated. Also, the fine thread permits more threads to hold in thin metal or shallow holes. The combination of fine thread and more precise production helps the gun screws hold alignment much better and they will withstand being tightened with more torque. A scope mount must have absolutely no movement whatever. If the mount shifts around by .001" that will cause a shift in point of impact of a foot or so at 100 yards.
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The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.

Offline bluebayou

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2007, 05:50:44 PM »
I got some hardened screws.  I didn't think about getting 40 threads per inch versus the 32 thread ones that I purchased.  That is a good point.  I was trying to save a buck.  The Choate mount was $40 but didn't have screws included (IIRC). 

In all honesty, the whole scope on an SKS project is kind of ungainly.  I doubt if I will ever carry it with a scope.  I WILL shoot some of my handloads just to settle an argument.  I have always thought that one reason for the SKS's poorly perceived accuracy is just the crummy surplus ammo that people shoot.
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Offline gunnut69

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2007, 06:20:21 AM »
The simplest holding device is 2 pieces of thin steel riveted together on one end. On the other end drill a hole (or a couple of holes) to fit the screw(s) that you wish to cut. Twist the 2 pieces of steel out of alignment and insert the screw to be cut into the correct hole. Pushing the pieces back into alignment will hold the screw heads tightly against the other pice of steel with the threaded end protruding for cutting. I cut with a moto tool and cutoff wheel. Thread pitch is irrelevant. If the rivet loosens simply give it a tap..
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Offline wncchester

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2007, 11:23:05 AM »
Blue, IF you do drill/tap and mount a scope with common fine thread machine screws use #8 screws, not #6.  They will be just as easy to deal with and the mounting will be significantly stronger.
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Offline wtroger

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Re: how do you cut screws?
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2007, 08:07:45 AM »
The nut thing works well but there is tool that Brownells sells and possible Midway or you could build it yourself
it consists of a steel stem about 5/16 inch in diameter about 3 inches long. It is threaded on one end and there is a threaded cap that goes on the the stem that has a hole drilled through it that allows the threads to stick out. The cap holds the head against the rod this gives you a good handle to get a hold of and the screw is held tight. This thing works great. For real precision cuts and making sure the end is square. I have a valve grinding machine and it has a provision for squaring and setting the length of the valve stems I have clamped this tool in that fixture and used the build in mic to remove exactly as many thousands as was needed.
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