Screw trimming jig plate (for lack of better words)

[bobs409]

Here's a small idea that might be of help to some of you.

I've been working on a project that required many short screws of a length not available that go into blind holes so after getting tired of hack sawing screws in the vise, I thought of this little jig.

It's just a small plate of aluminum that I drilled and tapped for (5) 8-32 screws, (the size my project called for but you could make this for any size screw or bolt).

Turn the screws in from the bottom side nice and snug, then install in the mill and run an end mill down the line to trim them off! They all come out the same height and when done, it's easy to take a small file to clean any burrs off of them while they are still in the plate.

I am going to make a few more of these for various size screws. It seems I'm always having to trim screws for something or other so now I can use this method when there are many to do. (I also number punched the size on the face to quickly identify it)

[mattthemuppet]

neat! you could use a slitting saw too, might be quicker as you're cutting through the screw rather than cutting it away.

[bobs409]

neat! you could use a slitting saw too, might be quicker as you're cutting through the screw rather than cutting it away.

Very good idea, I like that better! I am planning on making a slitting saw arbor soon.

[mattthemuppet]

You're welcome! Another idea - if you can find an outside deburrer small enough (like the ones they use on pipes), you could add a small chamfer to the ends of the screws to make them easier to start in holes..

[mklotz]

You're welcome! Another idea - if you can find an outside deburrer small enough (like the ones they use on pipes), you could add a small chamfer to the ends of the screws to make them easier to start in holes..

I keep meaning to build myself a cut screw end deburrer to run on a Dremel. Cut a 60 deg female cone in the end of a piece of rod, glue some emery paper inside the cone, mount on a 1/8" shaft to fit a Dremel collet and Bob's your sister's brother.

[mattthemuppet]

that would be a simple way to do it, or even just cut a slot in the side and feed a flap of sand paper through. I checked out the pipe reamers I was thinking of and they're all too big. most if not all of them also do the inside at the same time, which wouldn't work at all for this.

[DIYer]

Thanks bobs409! We've added your Screw Trimming Plate to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: bobs409's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Screw Trimming Plate by bobs409

tags: plate

[Moby Duck]

You might be able to adapt a reloaders case "chamfering" tool for this. The one direct from Lee Precision costs USD3.98 and doesn't give sizes but most from other manufacturers say from 0.17 to 0.45 inch. They are supposedly precision machined and ground and are hardened steel and most have a 45 degree angle. There are others besides Lee that make them in different styles but they cost considerably more than Lee. All are designed for brass of course, but for $3.98 I suspect that you will get reasonable service out of them for small steel screws. Shouldn't be too hard to make a holder to spin one of these in a Dremel, a lathe or a drill chuck. (Or just use your fingers).
http://leeprecision.com/chamfer-tool.html