shortening Chicago screw posts

[LarryDonaldson]

You can use a drill press as a makeshift lathe. Chuck a threaded stud into your drill press, thread your female post onto it. Position a small toolroom vise on to your table with a turning tool placed horizontal in the vise. Usually your drill pres will have a depth stop so that you can repeat your cut length. It's actually very easy to do just keep your tool tip just under the part center line for good cutting action.

[10x]

Does any one know where I can find the barrel side only in 8-32 thread that is 1/4 high?

[WilliamWood]

Does anyone know of a method for shortening the female post of a chicago screw. I've got some female posts that are about 1/2" long and would like to be able to shorten them as needed. Using a hacksaw blade seems like it might damage the threads. Is there something like a small pipe cutter available?

Thanks,

Ed

Try this: Get an old door hinge, like what is usually on a front residence door, and enlarge one of the holes so the "female" Chicage screw will go through it. Insert the post so the head is inside the hinge. Clamp it so the other half of the hinge is shut against the head, holding it immoble (.49 cent tiny "C-clamp works very well.) Fasten bottom hinge leaf in a bench vise, gripping the edges, so it can be opened while clamped. Small, clamp-on type vise works very well. Take a very short 8 X 32 (or 6 X 32) hex socket socket screw (ACE Hardware, Midwest fastener boxes - treasure trove for leather workers!) that is shorter than what you want the female screw to end up being. (Also, I make a little washer that is the same thickness as the finished length I want, if I'm shortening more than 10 or so, and drop it over the exposed shaft. File till the file touches the washer. Keep them for future use.) Run the setscrew to the bottom of the tapped screw hole with appropriate-sized Allen wrench, an take 3 - 4 swipes across it with a good sharp 8" smooth file. Take a drill bit (1/4" works well) and use it to countersink the hole again. Back out the setscrew, and the threads are restored. Same hinge can be used to hold the male part for shortening. Get a 8 X 32 / 6 X 32 nut and run on the male shaft before shortening. Before removing the nut, "rock" the file around the shaft end to round it. When the nut is unscrewed, the threads are restored. I use an old worn-out .22 bronze bore brush to finish the shortened male end. All this takes 'way less time to do than to tell. Big deal is all the parts are usually in most workshops, and are free! You can do 50-75 in an hour or less, all exactly alike.. WWood- Wood's Gun Repair

Edited October 7, 2009 by WilliamWood