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cutting a slot in a screw head (Read 14243 times)

Joe_S Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1108 Joined: Jun 29^th, 2004	cutting a slot in a screw head Sep 4^th, 2010 at 8:50pm	Print Post
	I recently made a stock screw for a BSA intl and I tried to cut the driver slot with a cut off disk mounted in a drill press, It was a great idea but I must have applied too much feed because I bent the arbor. I had to finish with a hack saw and a lot of filing. Is there a slot cutter that will cut a narrow slot that I could mount in a drill press or on a lathe to cut screw slots? Thanks! Joe S


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12345 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #1 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 9:03pm	Print Post
	Joe_S wrote on Sep 4^th, 2010 at 8:50pm: I recently made a stock screw for a BSA intl and I tried to cut the driver slot with a cut off disk mounted in a drill press, It was a great idea but I must have applied too much feed because I bent the arbor. I had to finish with a hack saw and a lot of filing. Is there a slot cutter that will cut a narrow slot that I could mount in a drill press or on a lathe to cut screw slots? Thanks! Joe S LOL!! Yes, it's called a slitting saw. Wont work in a drill press though. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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Joe_S Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1108 Joined: Jun 29^th, 2004	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #2 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 9:07pm	Print Post
	Where can I get one in a diameter suitable for narrow screw slots? Thanks! I assume that I could use it on a lathe if I can mount the screw in the tool holder or cross feed, am I correct? Joe S


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12345 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #3 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 9:20pm	Print Post
	Any tool supplier. When I need something fast I call MSC on the phone. You'll need an arbor to hold the saw blade in your lathe. Slitting saws come in all sizes. You need a catalog Joe. Call um. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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creedmoormatch Ex Member	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #4 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 9:22pm	Print Post
	Joe S. You may want to consider the screw head slot files that are offered by Brownell's Compary, specifically designed to accomplish what you are wanting to do. (But by hand work) You do mention a narrow slot, so you may have already considered these files and decided your application won't accept them. Creedmoormatch


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12345 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #5 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 9:25pm	Print Post
	Just realized that you will need a way to feed the screw vertically. They sell milling attachments too. You could get a slotting saw too, lot cheaper. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2312 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #6 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 10:16pm	Print Post
	38 Cal (David) posted a link to the instructions for using the Brownell screw slotting jig. I think he wrote it and maybe developed the jig. A lot of good info on cutting screw slots. You don't have to buy the jig. Can't find it with a search and think it is too big to attach, but will attach a copy if you will send me an E-mail. Agree a mill and slitting saw is easier. Chuck


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ssdave Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2138 Location: Eastern Oregon Joined: Apr 16^th, 2004	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #7 - Sep 4^th, 2010 at 11:25pm	Print Post
	JoeS, Nothing wrong with your original idea. When something doesn't work right, it's not always the best answer to abandon the process. A poor mans way to cut screw slots is quite legitimately to do it in the drill press with a dremel type arbor and cutoff wheel. What you absolutely must have to do it is a two axis mill vise for the setup. A $50 dollar unit from Enco will do the job, although a nice Palmgren would be better. Use a slow feed, and about a .005 to .008 depth of cut. Feed into the cut, so that the stone won't grab and climb into the work and spring the arbor. I do this routinely to setup a hammer for a fly for a set trigger. Simple job, takes maybe 15 minutes. I've done it with screws also. Faster than setting up my horizontal mill shaft with a slitter. For the past several years, my mill hasn't been set up, and I always have to do it in the drill press or by hand, so the drill press gets the work. Here's a picture out of a sequence of doing a hammer for a fly. I was putting together an article for the journal a couple years ago just before the big blow up in membership, so I never submitted it. Ran into the picture a couple of days ago in a file on the article, and remembered it when I saw your question. dave (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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Joe_S Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1108 Joined: Jun 29^th, 2004	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #8 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 12:32am	Print Post
	Thanks everyone for your help. I do have a cross feed vise which I used with the drill press. I am working on a milling attachment for the lathe which will give me more options. I have cut other screw heads with a hack saw, files and freehand with the drehmel cutoff wheel but I wanted a round bottom on the slot to accomodate a coin so I tried the drill press with the cutoff wheel. At this point I am out about $5 for a cutoff wheel arbor so it is a rather inexpensive lesson. I do not have the Brownell's screw slot file set, and will take a look at them also.Thanks to all for your help! Joe S


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12345 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #9 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 1:43am	Print Post
	Joe, if you can attach your crossfeed vice to a piece of heavy angle, then mount to your compound rest you'll have your vertical feed. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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38_Cal Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2255 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Joined: Apr 27^th, 2005	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #10 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 9:35am	Print Post
	Here's the B company page for the screw slot fixture that I developed for them: (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links); My design philosophy was to find a simple, easy way to do jobs that would otherwise take a fair amount of time to set up, even if they didn't take much time to do. Nope, I don't get any royalties... David

	David Kaiser Montezuma, IA
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John Taylor Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1851 Location: Lewiston, ID Joined: Oct 23^rd, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #11 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 11:32am	Print Post
	38_cal, that's a neat looking jig. I have used the mill to get the slots done. Most mills runs a little fast for some slotting saws, they get dull fast if the metal is hard. I have been using woodruff key cutters that I thin down with a tool post grinder in the lathe.

	John Taylor Machinist/gunsmith
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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2312 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #12 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 10:00pm	Print Post
	I'll follow this discussion with a question. What is the proper width for most gun screw slots? Some of the English and Browning slots are too narrow, hard to remove a tight screw without breaking a blade. Most American screw slots are too wide, looks terrible. Opinions?? Chuck


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John Taylor Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1851 Location: Lewiston, ID Joined: Oct 23^rd, 2006	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #13 - Sep 5^th, 2010 at 11:05pm	Print Post
	Depends on the size of the screw head. I try for .040" on a 5/16" head, may go .035" on a 1/4" head

	John Taylor Machinist/gunsmith
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Joe_S Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1108 Joined: Jun 29^th, 2004	Re: cutting a slot in a screw head Reply #14 - Sep 12^th, 2010 at 8:33pm	Print Post
	A few days ago I came across a Dremel Ez-lock cutting kit that I bought about six months ago. I hadnt thought of it when I tried to cut that screw slot. A disk labelled "thin" caught my eye and it was off to the drill press. I chucked a carriage bolt into the cross vise and a few minutes later a pretty good screw slot appeared. I havent tried the standard thickness disk, but assume either will do just fine. If I can find a way to mount the screw in the lathe cross feed I can use a regular slotting saw in the lathe, but until then this should work well enough. Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Joe S


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