Cutting Bolts Cleanly - WOOD magazine

Securing a bolt or threaded rod in order to cut it to a custom length can often damage either the threads or your vise. Here’s a quick little jig from Jim that will have you cutting clean, custom bolts quickly.
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[@flatlinesup]

"You paid for the whole saw blade, use it." ~ Granddad
*lol

[@ozzstars_cars]

Why not just clamp the bolt in the vise directly? Who cares about the threads if they are being cut off and discarded.

[@flatlinesup]

in that vice the threads would mar the wooden vice jaws. You'd still have to use some type of packing between them.

[@philshock3805]

That's a great idea! I typically just use a couple of nuts threaded onto the bolt for secure clamping in a metal vise. Quicker than making this little jig but if all you have is wood-faced vise, the jig is a great option.

[@stevenwilliams1915]

This is plain stupid... Trimming bolts is a metal working operation. Just clamp the bolt in a regular steel vice and forget about the threads on the part you're going to toss anyway. This is a wonderful example of over-thinking a problem that doesn't exist.

[@philshock3805]

That's fine if you're simply shortening a bolt, but what if you need a small piece from a length of threaded rod? Or what if you don't have a metal vise?

[@a9ball1]

Not if you don't have a vice with metal jaws. A lot of folks only have a wood vice.

[@Hellohallo]

You all miss the point still.
No vice is needed.
Just a drill.
And a saw

[@lindam.9282]

Awesome! I always have trouble cutting bolts without ruining them. Thanks!

[@marksteele45]

Turn the bolt around, and clamp the head of the bolt, and the nut in the vice, cut it, chamfer the end, then remove the nut.

[@LubosMedovarsky]

Using a flat file to smooth the circle around the cut has always worked for me.

[@randybartlett3042]

I get a nice clean cut using a Dremel tool and a cut off blade.

[@geostanley409]

Quick question. Why would you be concerned about the threads on the end that you’re cutting off of the bolt?

[@Wood]

Not on the offcut; on the remaining threads of the bolt.

[@bradleytuckwell4854]

Great idea as always thanks

[@RealRuler2112]

FYI, it works better if you chamfer the end of the bolt a bit with a file or on the bench grinder before unscrewing the nut... without doing so, the nuts are difficult if not sometimes impossible to start again.

[@egbluesuede1220]

very common problem and very simple solution!

[@bigsparky65]

Great idea. Never thought about it

[@richragan4810]

Thank you! This is a great idea!

[@timhalcomb4041]

Thanks have a blessed day

[@carmamd]

Clever method! 👍

[@Habibulla.M]

Nice effective idea