I’m sure we’ve all experienced it at some stage. Someone has hammered the bolt or stud to get an engine out and now the thread is mushroomed and the nut doesn’t fit.
How do you sort that one out?
The old methods would have been to run a thread-file over the threads to realign them, reshape the end with a grinder or maybe even to cut the end of the thread off with a saw if it was really bad.
£6 delivered from eBay, well worth having one
How to fix it
You don’t need to do that any more thanks to the wonders of CNC tool machining. The modern solution to this conundrum is a simple conical cutter called a Deburring Tool or an External Chamfer Drill. You simply fit the tool to a drill, spin it clockwise a few turns and the cutter will put a nice gentle lead onto the thread, cutting through the mushroomed head.
VIDEO | CONICAL CUTTER
When it can be used
- Where this method works well is on larger diameter threads (M10 and over) of long studs and bolts
- It works best on softer fasteners. Stainless studs or hardened threads will not cut so easily or at all
When not to use
- The tool I bought does not work on small diameter threads (e.g. M6)
- It can’t be used on short studs that only stick out of the casing by a small amount
Where can you buy one?
Any of the main online marketplaces like eBay or Amazon. Simply search for ‘External Chamfer Tool’ or ‘Deburring Drill’
Verdict
It makes short work of a previously common and slow to resolve problem.
The best tip is not to hammer studs out in the first place with a steel hammer. Use a copper faced one and a punch to remove it fully in future.
Words and photos: Sticky
Thanks to Paul Casey for the suggestion
