How To Cut Stainless Screws – [Effective Methods]

You are the luckiest DIYer if you have never faced cutting or removing screws either in the middle or end of a project. Unfortunately, you are not! Right?

Indeed there is all chance of dealing with lengthy or erratic screws. Even if yours are stainless screws, dealing with them is not tasky as well. You just need to have a clear idea about how to cut stainless screws.

Cutting stainless screws needs some consideration to avoid galling. Although a bunch of tools are available there, you can’t do this job nicely without knowing the process and devices of cutting screws.  So, go through the ideas below and erase your tasks!

Why stainless screws are different?

No such differences are there when it comes to cutting the extra length of screws either stainless or others. But, indeed as for their different hardness and made of material, stainless screws deserve some extra care while cut or drilled by gadgets.

Extra care?! – Yes! With a drill you just need to consider the following facts:

• Avoid creating heat
• Maintain the lowest possible speed
• Keep the drill sharp
• Shallower the angle of the point than it does for wood.

However, you may be curious by why these above are needed to cut just stainless screws, not the others; Right?

Let us explain!

Maybe you’re familiar with the term “Galling” (or maybe not!). However, Galling is adhesive wear. It’s a worldwide expected phenomenon for stainless steel fasteners. Here microscopic transfer of metallic surface takes place at high speed. It makes the stainless screws stuck rapidly.

That claims, you need to avoid creating heat while cutting, as this hardens the steel. High-speed drilling can create heat, you know. So try to maintain the lowest possible drilling speed, if you want to avoid galling.

Tools for cutting screws

The following list of tools will erase your all troubles while cutting screws. Have a look!

• Bolt cutter/wire stripper
• Hacksaw
• Reciprocating saw
• Jigsaw
• Angle Grinder
• Oscillating tools

How to Cut Stainless Screws – Effective Methods

Small machine and drywall screws

Installing small machine screws, such as Drawer knobs,  is an easy process. But sometimes they come with a lengthy tail. In such case, for getting the exact sized screw, see what you can do-

1. Install the knobs with the washer and nut at first.
2. Take a permanent marker that marks on metal
3. Mark your screw right up against the nut and make sure that the mark is close to it.
4. Let the mark dry for just a second
5. Take the knob back off the drawer or project surface.
6. Cutting the thread throughout the marked line will get you the right-sized screw.

In the case of wood and drywall screws, if you cut them before drilling, the screw will lose its point. Then entering straightly through the wood won’t be easy for your screw. So in such a case, Drill a pilot hole into the project surface at first.

It will determine whether your screw is too long. Moreover, drilling holes before the screw will also erase buckling and splitting.

Well, you have got the right size knob already. Now it’s time to cut the stainless screw where you marked it up.

Let’s jump on how to cut these small machine screws!

Small machine and wood screws are easy to cut with a wire stripper or screw cutter. It might be a basic tool for every DIYer. But typical pairs aren’t robust enough to cut screws like stainless or others! After all quality matters, you know!

However, with that, you are about to cut the lengthy shank of wood screw that has been threaded through the pilot hole or the small machine screw that has been marked.

• Choose the correct hole size from your screw cutter. Make sure your screw fits snugly on the hole.

Remember, it’s a crucial step! If you choose a hole too big, the screw may bend instead of being cut. Also with a too-small hole, you won’t get a close cut.

• Insert the screw to that hole from its printed side where all the measurements are highlighted. This angle has the sharper end of the blade.
• Keep an eye on the cutting line. Once the blade is in the right place, you are going to go ahead and squeeze it.
• However, it’s better a cut a little bit and then have to cut again rather than cutting too much at first.
• Once it will pop, it’s obvious that the screw has been cut. Open the handles a little bit and the excess will fall right out.
• In case it’s difficult to line up the wire stripper with the project surface, you can rather use a reciprocating saw. Its long metal blade gives a smooth cut, keeping no sharp edge.
• If you feel a little rough even after cutting all edges, use sandpaper to smooth it instantly.

Large machine screws

Screws having larger threads, that are too big for wire stripper, are best done with other heavy-duty tools such as hacksaw, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, etc.

For large machine screws:

1. Install a nut onto your screw and stop threading it anywhere on the head side of the cutting line.
2. Warp a masking tape a few times around the shank of the screw, keeping the edges aligned.
3. One edge of the tape should be on the cutting line. And, it will form a straight single line around the screw.
4. While cutting you can follow the tape edge and get the exact sized screw.
5. Before cutting with a saw, clamp the screw in a vice so that the screw is set firmly in place.
6. Following the tape edge, cut the thread as straight as possible.
7. Remove the nut from the cut end and recheck if any misshapen is left.
8. Use a bench grinder or equivalent to smooth up the first thread.

That’s it. You can cut your stainless screw easily by the above process.

Conclusion

It’s okay to face screws of lengthy or unusual sizes. What’s not okay is to let it go and leave the risk to a mini accident. Now till you have known the facts on how to cut stainless screws, what’s Deterring you from cutting them?

Chose your desirable tool and make all your projects easy, clean, and free of risk.

Best of luck!