Workshop Tip - How To Shorten Bolts The Easy Way

[Retro Steam Tech]

[desbromilow]

love the hand vice - never seen one with the second handle configuration

[WmRMeyers]

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

[Retro Steam Tech]

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.

[motorhead]

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).

[Retro Steam Tech]

That's an excellent idea too.

[katy]

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.

[WmRMeyers]

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

[mklotz]

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.

[WmRMeyers]

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