How to cut a bolt without a grinder: the best ways

It often happens that the home workshop is full of bolts, but they are all longer than necessary. Then they need to be shortened - and this is already a problem if the owner does not have specialized tools like the Bulgarian. But as they say, nothing is impossible.

When a person sets a goal, he will always come up with a suitable way to put his plans into action. All you need is a little skill and patience. Here are some proven methods that everyone can adopt.

With a small cross section of a metal rod, this very simplest tool, which is in almost any home, is quite suitable. They can easily whittle away a few extra millimeters. True, this will require a lot of time and physical effort.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Tighten the bolt in a vice with the cap down.
2. Mark a notch spot.
3. Carefully make a gash (if the bar is not too thick, then it can then be broken with the help of pliers).

They are always at hand with any economic person. Having a multifunctional purpose and a hinged-pincer design, the pliers combine pliers, side cutters and a sharp cutter at the base of the jaws. They can clamp and grip pipes of small diameter, hold cylindrical parts, snack on metal rods.

To trim the bolt, do the following:

1. Measure the required length.
2. A small file in this place to make the file.
3. Tightly grab the excess sponges and break, or snack with nippers, located in the hinge mechanism.

Work as a chisel requires special attention and certain skills:

1. Accurately mark the desired contour with a special scriber for metal.
2. If the thickness of the metal is such that with one blow the chisel does not interrupt it, then the bolt is clamped with a metal vice. Otherwise, you can chop along a thin rod directly on a solid substrate or on a forge anvil.
3. You need to make sure that the sponges are at the level of the mark. With a large rod thickness, the scriber line should be about 4 mm higher than the clamping device.
4. Support the chopping tool on the near sponge so that the angle is 30-35⁰and the sharp edge adjoined to the surface to be treated was approximately 45⁰.
5. Hammer strikes should be short and accurate to the “neck”.

Important: Do not firmly grip the chisel handle in your hand. Correctly hold the tool slightly, evenly striking and gradually pushing the chopping blade parallel to the jaw lips.

When it is impossible to cut the metal from one time, repeat the passage again. Sometimes it is more expedient to do this on the same markup, but from the other side.

To the note: The chisel is a rough tool, therefore, when making a marking, it is necessary to take into account an additional allowance along the length, since after that you will have to cut the edge with a file or sandpaper.

The use of this device involves the targeted removal of metal layers due to the abrasive effect of emery stone. The procedure requires a lot of patience, since durable metal is difficult to handle manually. For this:

1. Bolt firmly clamped in a vice with the cap down.
2. Take the bar with two hands at opposite ends.
3. Grind out the required volume of the metal surface, applying a uniform movement with great effort.

Attention! This tool is suitable in cases where you just need to sharpen the excess length of the rod.

Quickly to achieve the desired result is much easier with the help of a metal file and a screwdriver or a drill. In addition to these tools, you also need a pair of nuts, a marker pen and skillful hands.

On a note! If you get down to business without preparation and just start sawing the bolt with a hacksaw, then thread damage is inevitable. Then the fastener will become unsuitable for further use.

Guaranteed to protect yourself by using a proven method. The algorithm is simple:

1. Select the bolt of the desired diameter and mark for cutting right along the thread.
2. Twist two nuts on it to the intended line - one will play the role of a stopper, the second - a lock nut, which will not allow the first to move on coils.
3. For fixing the blade, if necessary, you can screw the additional nut below the cut mark.
4. Insert the assembled structure into the screwdriver / drill chuck and hold the retainer firmly.
5. Attach a hacksaw to the cutting line.
6. Turn the tool on to the power grid. The sharp teeth of a saw will quickly separate the extra end of a core.

This technology will help to perform pruning quickly and efficiently, and the cut will remain flat.

If there is nothing suitable at all nearby, and you really need to shorten the rod, then there is only one option - to heat up the metal bar to white to soften the iron, and to cut off the excess with the usual meat ax.

You can heat the metal as much as possible by using a blacksmith’s forge, a blowtorch, an electric stove, a gas burner, and, finally, a fire from wood. The optimal choice can be made only if you know the grade of steel from which the rod itself is made.

And here it is important to observe caution when in contact with hot sparks, which can get into the eyes and cause burns to the mucous membranes. The danger is the possibility of departure in the direction of the cut off part of the heat. Therefore, before taking a risk, you need to wear safety glasses, thick clothes and a hat, or tarpaulin gloves on your hands, or wrap them with a rag.

And, nevertheless, it is better to refrain from such experiments.

Thus, you can always find a way to shorten the length of the bolt, if you show a little master's wit. And although it often requires a lot of willpower, patience and physical effort, but the result will undoubtedly be a well-deserved reward for you. And, it would seem, the simplest tools will help to fulfill our plans even without a modern functional grinder.