is there a dremel type cutter disc for an ordinary cordless drill?

[Burnham Bob]

I have to bolt on my new locker lids. I want to cut the bolts attaching the hinges to the lids off almost flush with the nuts underneath. I can't get a hacksaw - even a junior one - on properly once the nuts are fastened as the angle is wrong. I know i could put a bolt on, measure it and take the other bolts home to hacksaw to the same length but as I've got the cordless drill there to drill the holes in the lids, the ideal solution would be a rotating cutter disc like a dremel one that fits an ordinary drill. Does such a thing exist? I'm assuming that the cutter would be at right angles to the chuck and would not have too large a front boss. Am I lusting after the unobtainable?

Mind you what's your opinion of using brass screws? The lids are 18mm marine ply. I know that with bolts the load is spread on the penny washers underneath and the heads of the machine screws in the countersunk hinge holes so the bolts can't strip out of the holes if the lid is a little uneven in the way it fits and a load is put on it when you step on the lid. Would screws hold in the Forum's opinion? Most hinges take an M5 bolt but the replacement hinge has M3 holes.

 

[Avocet]

I don't think a drill would turn anywhere near fast enough for it to work. I have a Dremel (well, a cheap copy of one!) and it does come with little tiny grinding discs and yes, they would cut a small bolt through pretty much flush. Bolt gets darned hot though! Also you get lots of grinding dust in the locker.

 

[sailorman]

i bought a set of tools/ cutters from Aldi for about £7
for the money a dremmel is well worth it. i bought mine for some gelcoat repairs & its so useful to have. i needed to enlarge a hole last w/e for 60m/m heater hose below the head, it was done in no time

 

[Vallich]

My experience is the same as Messers Avocet and Sailorman - get a Dremmel or copy (as We did) and use that. I've used mine to grind off bolt heads whilst replacing the door mechanisms in my car, repaired the fairing on my bike and done numerous things about my house. We'll worth the low cost especially the cutters n grinders from Aldi.

 

[Gwylan]

A Famel (fake Dremel) from one of the German shops is a great thing to have. Look for Diamond disks that tend to last longer than the stone disks. And get the job done, watch out for hot bits though.

 

[PCUK]

How about buying a mini grinder and thin cutting disc. You can get grinders for less than a tenner if you look around!

 

[macd]

I wouldn't use brass screws anywhere seawater can reach.

Assuming you have one, what's wrong with taking your vice to the boat and cutting the bolts to length before attaching the hinges?

 

[VicS]

I have to bolt on my new locker lids. I want to cut the bolts attaching the hinges to the lids off almost flush with the nuts underneath. I can't get a hacksaw - even a junior one - on properly once the nuts are fastened as the angle is wrong. I know i could put a bolt on, measure it and take the other bolts home to hacksaw to the same length but as I've got the cordless drill there to drill the holes in the lids, the ideal solution would be a rotating cutter disc like a dremel one that fits an ordinary drill. Does such a thing exist? I'm assuming that the cutter would be at right angles to the chuck and would not have too large a front boss. Am I lusting after the unobtainable?

Mind you what's your opinion of using brass screws? The lids are 18mm marine ply. I know that with bolts the load is spread on the penny washers underneath and the heads of the machine screws in the countersunk hinge holes so the bolts can't strip out of the holes if the lid is a little uneven in the way it fits and a load is put on it when you step on the lid. Would screws hold in the Forum's opinion? Most hinges take an M5 bolt but the replacement hinge has M3 holes.

Random thoughts.

As already suggested take vice, or borrow boat yard vice, cut each bolt to the required length as you go. Hopefully they are all the same but they can be cut individually if necessary. If the space is available consider dome nuts to cover the cut ends of the bolts.

3mm holes in the hinges are pretty small. I dont think they would take size 6 woodscrews without enlarging. Even then they will not be all that sturdy to take much load esp if brass.

Id enlarge the holes if possible to take 5 or 6mm machine screws ( You did not really mean bolts, with hex heads, did you ?) or no 8 wood screws if using wood screws.

If you use brass be prepared to renew them from time to time.
What about stainless steel screws ?
Would self tapping screws be appropriate? .... No shank like traditional wood screws.

My lids are held with a mixture of stainless CSK machine screws and stainless self tappers where I cannot fit nuts inside ( Two of each to attach each hinge to the lid.)
I have used ordinary sized washers which over the years have pulled into the surface veneer and are now just about flush with it.

My lids are in two parts . The parts are hinged together with 3 brass hinges and ( size 4 ??) brass woodscrews. They are not exposed to seawater and have easily lasted over 20 years.