Cutting screws

[slyonedoofy]

I have to cut wall plate screws down on most jobs to put in wall plate for switches against tile.

I have to cut them down between 1/8" to 1/4" depending on the tile. (really short)

I have been using a cheap pair of harbor freight wire strippers but it seems to shear them off at an angle.

I use the holes near the hinge point and shear them off.

Anyone have a cleaner way to do this?

Knipex pliers come to mind but not sure which ones would be the best for the job. I need clean cuts as it always messes up the threads a bit when cut.

Looking for something fairly small that won't get damaged on the cutting surface easily.

Thanks.

 

[larry_g]

Are you using the cutter properly? You screw into the threads so that the cut end fall off and then unscrew the usable part and the threads are straightened out. You might also get a Klien brand pair of cutters from the big box.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Farmall450]

I'm guessing mini bolt cutters won't cut it flush enough?

 

[AndeiH]

I use Klein wire strippers to cut them off and I never noticed if it shears them off at an angle or not. I don't think I've ever had an issue with the screws threading in though.

when you back out the screw, the threads on the cutter should straighten out the threads on the screw.

 

[doan]

You can buy the short screws. They are the ones that come with GFCI outlets.

Or do you need shorter?

 

[Givl Reggin]

You should have a good inch or more to work with in screw length for cover plates - why can't you buy the right size screws? I've never had much luck in cutting screws, it always messes up the threads.

 

[kctyphoon]

the milwaukee lineman pliers have a feature to cut and thread those screws..
now $21 at home depot - well worth it IMO for someone like you... i would buy their entire line of hand tools if i were a residential electrician. since switching over to milwaukee, there has not been one purchase i dont feel like ive gotten the most for my money. every item they release seems to be well thought out, instead of just another "thing" to add to their line..

 

[boiler7904]

I keep a pair of strippers similar to these Channellock 959s in my electrical kit primarily to cut small machine screws. You thread the screw in to the hole appropriate to the screw size to the length you want and squeeze. Backing the screw out cleans up any little burrs at the new cut and you're ready to go. No problem with any screws cut this way.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Does it really matter if the sheared end isn't flat? As long as the threads are okay, it gets screwed into place and you can't see the end anyway.

 

[slyonedoofy]

You can buy the short screws. They are the ones that come with GFCI outlets.

Or do you need shorter?

The threaded length sometimes is 1/8" when I cut them.

 

[slyonedoofy]

Does it really matter if the sheared end isn't flat? As long as the threads are okay, it gets screwed into place and you can't see the end anyway.

Sometimes it does matter. Small tolerances between where the screw goes into the outlet and the tile behind, sometimes the threads if cut at a slight angle won't hold.

 

[never enuf time]

You need to have tile cut bigger. I make a v notch toward the screw hole.

 

[slyonedoofy]

the milwaukee lineman pliers have a feature to cut and thread those screws..
now $21 at home depot - well worth it IMO for someone like you... i would buy their entire line of hand tools if i were a residential electrician. since switching over to milwaukee, there has not been one purchase i dont feel like ive gotten the most for my money. every item they release seems to be well though out, instead of just another "thing" to add to their line..

They look good. I can't tell if I can actually shear a screw to 1/8" with those.

I'll have to look at them in the store.

 

[slyonedoofy]

You need to have tile cut bigger. I make a v notch toward the screw hole.

Well if we used smarter tile guys I wouldn't have this problem.

 

[n8n]

You should have a good inch or more to work with in screw length for cover plates - why can't you buy the right size screws? I've never had much luck in cutting screws, it always messes up the threads.

Decora plates place the cover screw on the wall surface. I cut screws all the time with some ancient cheap strippers but I use solid brass most of the time which is less challenging.

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[slyonedoofy]

Decora plates place the cover screw on the wall surface. I cut screws all the time with some ancient cheap strippers but I use solid brass most of the time which is less challenging.

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Exactly. That's why it's a problem. Decora plates have the screws at the top and bottom of the plate.

 

[woody 73]

Funny I had seen the sparky video some time back and it was interesting how he liked the Milwaukee over the fancy German pliers.

Another video of how to cut screws and then back them out for a good fit :

 

[slyonedoofy]

On a side note....does anyone have a source of 2" or bigger painted head outlet screws?

We install granite back splash and the screws are too short to reach the box.

These are for phone jack boxes.

No outlet or switch inside to screw to.

Thanks.

 

[never enuf time]

Well if we used smarter tile guys I wouldn't have this problem.

It's your job to complain about it to them,builder, or super.
I am a finish carpenter, I dont make a habit of it to complain but, if someone is making my life harder they need to know.

The tile person might not even know that they are doing it. If you can its best to talk to them.

 

[n8n]

Just order by spec. 6-32 oval head. May have to get a can of white Krylon as I don't know if they make them with painted heads.

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[slyonedoofy]

Just order by spec. 6-32 oval head. May have to get a can of white Krylon as I don't know if they make them with painted heads.

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Thanks. I didn't know they were called oval head.

So far I have been using appliance paint in a bottle that looks like "white out".

 

[Givl Reggin]

Decora plates have the screws at the top and bottom of the plate.

I had to go look up and see what kind of fancy-candy-*** switches you guys are installing.... now I see your problem.....