Shortening BA screws

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Howard

Model Engineers’ Workshop Magazine – Autumn Special 2018

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Got 10 minutes in my workshop last night to try Jason’s method, and it works!  A bit of fiddling with a nut to check the burrs are gone is still needed. but considerably faster than my ‘use a nut to clear the burr’ technique.   I’m a convert!

Andrew mentioned Dremel problems in his original question.   Mine is reserved for delicate accurate work, and jolly useful it is.  Although they have a relatively powerful motor, I resist the strong temptation to use mine for rough work.  Chopping lots 6BA of screws is on my borderline for a Dremel, and I’d almost certainly use a junior hacksaw to do the job.   A human can put a lot more cutting power into a junior hacksaw than a Dremel delivers, and the hacksaw doesn’t eat delicate cutting discs!

As always, it’s horses for courses!  When it suits me, I abuse tools as necessary to save time or to get a one-off job done.   And there must be plenty of occasions where it makes sense for a modeller to push a Dremel to the limit, especially when he doesn’t have a well-equipped workshop yet.   Easy for me to say don’t use a Dremel for rough work, when I have a full range of handsaws, a band-saw, angle-grinder, mill driven slitting saws, and a lathe that parts off without tears!   But, where possible I recommend using tools inside their comfort zone; and note that a Dremel isn’t a monster metal muncher!

Dave

 

[JAParticipant @ja]

Shelling peas.

I do not have a picture for screws (6 & 8BA square headed) but here is one for square nuts. The job rotates at about 200rpm. 60 can be done, with a chamfer on one side, in an afternoon with ease. Screw shortening and stud making are similar (the chuck is different and very simple).

JA

 

 

 

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If I had to remove the heads from 40 6BA screws, it would be a tedious job with a junior hacksaw and file.

Despite what Jason says, I would make a 6BA stud box (Bit of hexagon bar, drill / tap 6 BA, put in a stop screw at one end, screw in the bolts /screws against the stop) and then turn off the heads, to make a neat job of it.

Howard

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