turning a standard bolt

[Tim HadleighParticipant @timhadleigh69425]

Bit of a dumb question but are the machine bolts that you buy in a hardware store already hardened? I want to cut off the head then, on my lathe, turn down the diameter on the non-threaded end. I obvioulsy dont want to ruin an index tool finding out!

 

Any help appreciated.

Tim

[Tim HadleighParticipant @timhadleigh69425]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Usually not, some are a higher tensile strength than others but that should not make a lot of difference, I’ve machined quite a few HT socket head screws and the odd bolt without problems in the past.

 

Modern steel woodscrews do tend to be hardened unlike the old slotted types so can’t be easily worked unless heat treated first.

 

J

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

I’ve never come across hardened ones, but I have come across some that were not nice to turn, I guess there is some work hardening going on through the threading process.

 

 

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

You can always try a file on the bolt, if it skips then the bolt is hard! The modern thin woodscrews are formed by a succession of rolls at very high pressure, deformation rather than cutting- same process as rolled ballscrews. I have seen a website in the past that had some cutters made from ground up HT bolts so it ain’t that soft!

 

Billy.

 

[Tim HadleighParticipant @timhadleigh69425]

Thanks guys, its off to B&Q tommorow. Trying a file against one is a good tip – l will pay for it first!

 

Tim

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