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Thread: Filing small grooves in bolts
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7th Sep 2020, 07:40 PM #1New Member
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Filing small grooves in bolts
Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have a simple question for a small job. I'm wondering what might be the easiest way to to file out a V-shaped groove, like in this picture, around the circumference of a 1/4"-28 bolt made of 303 stainless steel. I'm thinking maybe a certain Dremel bit to get things started, followed by a specific type of file. I'm also thinking of securing the bolt in my drill chuck so I can rotate it while cutting/filing so that the groove is equal all around. But, as is probably clear, I really have no idea what I'm doing, so any help would be appreciated!
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7th Sep 2020, 07:57 PM #2
Turn it down in a lathe.
Or chuck it up in a drill and use a triangle file or suitable abrasive disc if you have to.
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7th Sep 2020, 07:59 PM #3
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7th Sep 2020, 08:19 PM #4I break stuff...
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I assume the reason for the question is that you DON'T have a lathe, so yes, the easiest way with the most basic of tools is to chuck it up in a drill (drill press better if you have it). Being stainless, filing all the way might be a bit iffy considering work hardening? Perhaps better to rough out with a dremel (while the drill is spinning too), and finish with a triangular file. Or not, if you're a steady hand with a dremel - I've made some pulleys out of acetal with a circular groove in them for string to run on in the same way before, out of necessity. Mind your fingers.
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7th Sep 2020, 10:37 PM #5
Hi Shivasage,
Welcome to the MetalWork Forums.
It may help a lot if you could tell us what the application of your project.
You never know ,some one may have already been there and done the exact same thing you are hoping to achieve.
Knowing what you want to do and what tools you have to do it with will likely save a bunch of time.
Grahame
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8th Sep 2020, 05:52 AM #6New Member
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Hi Grahame. Sure, I can explain a bit. I need to file these bolts to work as pivots in an electric guitar 'tremolo' system, or 'floating bridge.' It is a fulcrum-based system in which the bridge pivots on a knife edge. The strings pull the bridge on one side and the springs pull it on the other side. The point of interest is the pivot point, where knife edges are filed into two cutouts on either side of the bridge plate which are then placed in the grooves cutout in the studs, i.e. the grooves I am trying to create. The grooves must be very precise.
I do not have a lathe. As far as power tools go I have a drill driver and a Dremel rotary tool. I have some files but they were cheap. The edge on the triangle file is about 1/64", which seems a bit blunt. The Dremel cutting wheel I use to cut steel is 1/32", but I wonder if there's a more proper bit. I'm not opposed to buying other hand tools or drill/Dremel attachments for the job, but not any sort of expensive power tool.
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8th Sep 2020, 09:11 AM #7Golden Member
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Where are you? I can help you turn them on the lathe if you’re close to West Sydney?
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8th Sep 2020, 09:22 AM #8New Member
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Thanks for offering! Unfortunately I'm located in NYC, so, a bit out of the way :\
One thing I realized is that I need to harden the piece when I'm done machining it, so I need to think carefully about which type of steel I use. I think I can get by with some form of tool steel that has been hardened, as the piece will pivot back and forth so I don't think it will need to be bendable. I may be wrong, but it doesn't seem easy to find a bolt of specific size in a specific type of steel. I can, however, find unthreaded rods of specific types of steel, so now I'm thinking I should just buy a rod of some type like O1 or A2 (EDIT: now leaning towards D2), buy a 1/4"-28 die to thread it, cut the grooves, and then take it to someone to heat treat it.
Well, that's the current plan at least.
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