A while back several people indicated that they regulary used a cutoff wheel to cut toilet bolts. I wonder what wheel that they use.
Normally I don’t have that much of a problem, but I had a toilet with steel nuts and bolts. And the bolts where spinning.
Normally with brass it is not too hard to use a single end hacksaw blade to notch the bolt and then snap it off. But these where too hard.
The first one I made 3 vertical cuts through the nut and into the bolt, but that was not enough to release it. I had to cut horizontally across the bottom of the nut all the way around. Then I could peal the nut off. Used 4 or 5 disks.
On the other side I tried to get under the nut and cut the bolt off, but I did not make any headway that way and after 3 or 4 disks went back to the first method.
I used #420. They are 15/16 OD x .025. 20 to a pack. They are the “heavy duty” version. And I had much less breakage than I did with the other ones that I had been using.
I think that those where the #409. Same size, but 36 to a pack.
But there are also 1/ 1/4″ dia cutoff wheels. I wonder if they would be better cutting under the nut and through the bolt and getting it done with one disk.
There are two types of those.
#540 .0625 thick. It looks like the smaller ones.
#426 .045 thich. “Fiberglass Reinforced Cut-off Wheels” It cost over twice the 540.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Replies
Bill,
I use a Dremel with cut off wheels quite a bit . I use the thinner of the two small disks. The heavier (thicker ones) I do a little grinding type work with but they don't seem to cut well.
I do end up breaking more than a few of the thin ones , always the same problem , I don't hold the tool steady enough and bind the disk and it breaks.
I have had some good luck with the Rotozip and it's right angle attachment with a cutting wheel. Also Norton cutting disks in the 4" grinder.
The smaller & thinner all-abrasive ones cut faster, but they don't have the reach of the wider wheels. Of course they break easy but when I use them I take all the time I need to brace myself properly, run at max speed (it slows down a tad when it starts cutting) take a deep breadth and make it in one pass if possible. What I find the cause most likely to break these babies is trying to get back in the kerf at the right/same angle, so if you never come out of it you reduce the chances of breakeage.
Improving one's technique is always a goal of mine.
I use the fiber re-enforced ones more often. These can take a little twisting, but they don't cut as fast. Again, always run at top speed (25K).
I only use my dremel for the more delicate tasks. I prefer my 4" grinder(s) with a very thin disk (1/32" thick) for most remodeling jobs, cuts so fast. I always wear goggles and earmuffs.
i have a diamond edged disc that works good.
Lee Valley, I believe, has them
Peace
Happy
ya
Freakin'
Cry
Babies!!!
I use my trusty nut cracker. When I discovered this tool I wondered how I ever lived without one.
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kdt710.html
You beat me to it, I have one from Craftsman that a friend gave me. Should do the deed.
Great tool, just always at home in the mechanics tool boxes. ;-)
Thanks, I wonder how well those worked..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
The nutcracker tool usually works pretty well. I've used it on a couple of john bolts. Basically, it's a C-clamp with a fixed chisel on one side of the clamp. When you reef on the threaded side, it squashes the nut against the fixed chisel until until the nut splits. Sometimes you have to split the nut on two opposing sides for it to fall off the bolt in two pieces. Go slow and steady, especially near the china. Beats the heck outa trying to hacksaw through the bolt.