Shortening screws

[thehomeengineer]

Hi All
sometimes I have the need to shorten bolts and screws for my models. These are sometimes to small and fiddly to use in my lantern chuck. So I have made a filing jig. A piece of 1/8” mild steel drilled and tapped and I screw the bolts in to the jig and space as necessary to give the desired length. The packers are the same as I use for the rivet shortening tool.

Jig, Spacers and 8BA screws to be shortened.

Setting length with spacer
Screws tighten down onto spacer

Filed down to 1/8” steel

Two screws finished and bolted into place.

I find this a very quick method to get bolts to the correct length.
Thank you for viewing
The Home Engineer

[DIYer]

Thanks thehomeengineer! We've added your Screw Shortening Jig to our Fastening category,
as well as to your builder page: thehomeengineer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Screw Shortening Jig by thehomeengineer

tags: jig

[nova_robotics]

Oh that's excellent. I usually just throw a nut on there (to chase the threads) then have at it with the bench grinder.

[Christophe Mineau]

Nice, I like it, simple is beautiful !

[Philip Davies]

I looked again at your rivet shortening tool, and saw that you have several sets of shims, or packers. Did you make these, or are they commercially produced?

[thehomeengineer]

Hi Philip
Hope you and your wife are keeping well.
I made the shims from three different thickness of material I have ordered some 0.5 mm but that was back in January from eBay coming via China but it hasn’t arrived yet. These were cut on a CNC router and made to suit the rivet shortening tool hole pitches. All I do is gang the shims together to get the required length.
All the best
Andy

[ncollar]

The Home Engineer
I love your design of your shim plates but that must have been time consuming. The only change I would make is washers parted off on a lathe to all the lengths I needed. Wonderful idea.
Nelson

[thehomeengineer]

Hi Nelson
Good to hear from you. Washer work really well and can be made to an exact size. But when you have a lot of screws to shorten the shims are far quicker as several screws can be done at once. Otherwise you would need to make lots of washers all the same length. The Shims I made were produced on a CNC I have access to so while the machine was set up I ran quite a few off but to be honest you don’t need that many. As you could make different thickness Jig plates and drill and tap them with the size bolts you normally have to shorten. Then use the shims to get to the finished size. (No matter what size jig plate you drill and tap you will always want to shorten a screw that you haven’t yet made a plate for).
I had to shorten 24 8BA screws today and it was done in two batches of 12. (See photos below). Like most things in engineering there is always more than one way to get the job done but in the home workshop we sometimes have to get a bit creative. Does not always work but it is very nice and satisfying when it does.

Filing jig loaded and ready to file down to size. 3/16” under the head.

Again great to hear from you
The Home Engineer

[Jon]

Congratulations thehomeengineer - your Screw Shortening Jig is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

This is a clever solution for a common task, although admittedly less common than the cling film screw holding method you also posted this week! Congratulations again on also winning the Top 10 Tool Builder award this week, for placing in the top 10 on our Tool Builders List

Some more good builds from this week:

Small Screw Holding Method by thehomeengineer
Bandsaw Lubrication Fixture by rgsparber
Mini Plate Compactor by olefella
Sanding Tool by PB Machines
Match Drilling and Tapping Hole Method by rgsparber
Lawnmower Tires by olderdan
Universal Wrench by Mr.DK DIY
Lathe Leadscrew Motorization by olderdan
Hydraulic Press by mlochala
Pressure Assist Sandblaster by tekcraft
Sheetmetal Bender by meanwhileinthegarage
Welding Clamp by fawabros
Spot Face Cutter by Workshopshed
Dial Indicator Mount by Crusty
Sanding Disc Adhesive Restoration by editor at glue-it.com
Compound Bow Presses by mlochala
Hydraulic Bench Vise by Kwandotechnic
Tape Dispenser by Christofix
Cylinder Block Stud Insertion Tool by thehomeengineer
Round Workpiece Vise Jaw Attachment by Tuomas
Sanding Block by rgsparber
Welding Tip Tool by garage nut
Paint Shaker by TigerCreek
Marking Gauge by Didpoolhall
Clamp Rack by Make Things

thehomeengineer - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This is your 9th Homemade Tool of the Week. Here are all of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again

Claw Clamps by thehomeengineer

tags: clamp

Sheetmetal Former by thehomeengineer

tags: sheetmetal

Ring Roller by thehomeengineer

tags: ring roller

Axle Stands by thehomeengineer

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Chuck Back and Face Stops by thehomeengineer

tags: chuck, stop

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tags: threading, cutting tool

Arduino Controlled Rotary Table by thehomeengineer

tags: Arduino, motor, controller

Small Wire Bender by thehomeengineer

tags: bender, chain

Screw Shortening Jig by thehomeengineer

tags: jig

[Philip Davies]

Congratulations again! Your contribution to this site over 3 years has been outstanding! May I offer you a new challenge? Design a solar forge for the back garden!