Thursday, April 17, 2014
How to Cut a Gas Tank in Half
Cutting a gas tank in half isnt an overly difficult task if youre equipped with the right tools. Although you could use a grinder or oxyacetylene torch to accomplish the job, the safest and perhaps most efficient tool to use is a reciprocating saw. In order to cut the tank effectively, the saw will need to be fixed with a metal-cutting blade. A metal-cutting blade will utilize multiple teeth, usually numbering somewhere between 14 and 20 per inch. This is much more than a wood-cutting blade, which has only 6 to 8 teeth per inch.
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the gas tank out several times with water and let it drain. If you have time, you should also allow the tank to air out for roughly 3 to 5 days. Obviously, the gas should be removed from the vehicle.
2Use marking chalk to draw a line around the middle of the gas tank. By following this line, youll be better equipped to make a clean, straight cut around the entire gas tank.
3Attach a bit to your drill specifically designed for drilling in metal. Put on your safety glasses and drill a hole at some point along the line you drew with the marking chalk. The hole you drill will make it easier to insert the blade and start the cut with your reciprocating saw.
4Grip the reciprocating saw firmly and pull the trigger to start the saw. Start the blade into the hole you drilled and begin sawing the gas tank in half. Follow your line and work slowly. If you rush or push too hard, you may dull or damage the saw blade. Continue cutting until youve successfully separated the gas tank into halves.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
How to Cut Bolts Without Damaging the Thread
Thread damage commonly occurs when cutting bolts, making the bolts difficult to start in a nut or threaded hole. Bolts made of certain materials, such as stainless alloys, will have a tendency to gall and bind if the bolt threads are damaged during cutting operations. Preserve the shape and pitch of the threads -- particularly the starter thread -- to prevent the bolt from binding in the hole. Maintain the threads during cutting by using proper techniques and tools.
Instructions
- 1
Install a die of the proper diameter and pitch on the bolt to be cut. Thread the die all the way down to the bolt head or shoulder.
2Install a nut of the proper diameter and pitch onto the bolt. Thread the nut down the bolt until the bottom edge of the nut is on the desired cut location.
3Grasp the bolt firmly above the nut and brace your hand against a firm surface to hold the bolt steady for cutting. Cut the bolt off, using a hacksaw. Use the bottom edge of the nut as a guide to make certain the cut stays square and perpendicular to the bolt.
4Remove the nut from the bolt.
5Grind a 45-degree chamfer on the cut end of the bolt to remove any spurs from the starter thread, using a grinder. Do not grind the chamfer beyond the first thread.
6Rotate the die off the bolt to clean up any remaining spurs and make certain the threads are correctly shaped.
7Remove loose metal shavings from the bolt, using a chip brush.
Monday, November 11, 2013
How to Cut Oil Grooves in a Bearing
Cutting grooves into a bearing can improve performance by increasing the surface area that is in direct contact with the lubricant. There are many different ways to do this, but it is always a good idea, if possible, to check with the manufacturer first. Some bearings do not work as well without smooth surfaces.
Instructions
- 1
Use a professionally designed groove cutter if you are working on complicated automotive bearings. These machines arent cheap, but they ensure a proper cut each time. You can also take your parts to a shop that has a groove cutting machine and have it done there.
2Choose what type of groove is best for the bearing you are working on. Circumferential groove bearings, in which the groove goes around the entire bearing, are best for connecting rod bearings because they distribute lubricant very evenly. Multiple groove bearings, in which the grooves are simply cut in a noncircular pattern, are used to provide a more general increase in lubrication.
3Put the bearing securely in a shop vice if you are cutting a circumferential groove and you do not have specialized equipment for doing so. Cut carefully around it with a grinding tool. This wont be nearly as perfect as a store-bought circumferential bearing, but may work better than the original.
4Place the bearing securely in the vise if you are cutting multiple grooves. Make four straight grooves down the sides of the bearing. You can cut more or less depending on how much surface area you want the lubricant to contact.
