how good are electric hammer drills for cutting bolts/nuts?

RB

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Oct 21, 2006, 5:26:16 PM10/21/06

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How well do the el cheapo hammer drills with chisel bits do at cutting off
nuts and bolts? I've got some in very inaccessible places where I can't get
any tool but an air chisel of an electric hammer drill with chisel. Not
confident my air compressor will carry the air chisel. Bolts I need to cut
are 3/8".

Pete C.

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Oct 21, 2006, 5:39:14 PM10/21/06

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They won't at all. Hammer drills have rotary and rotary/hammer modes,
they do not have a hammer only mode for use with chisels. A rotary
hammer will have a hammer only mode and cost a lot more. Try a good
chisel and a normal human powered hammer if your compressor isn't up to
powering an air chisel.

Pete C.

cm

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Oct 21, 2006, 6:02:29 PM10/21/06

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I would think that if you can get a hammer drill into this space you could
get a sawzall blade into there to cut your bolts off. You can buy them cheap
also.

cm
"RB" <rb...@bellsouth.nospam.net> wrote in message
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RicodJour

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Oct 21, 2006, 7:50:07 PM10/21/06

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Chisels are not the way to go. Use a pneumatic cutoff tool, a grinder
or a sawzall with a good blade. Watch for hot metal bits on you and on
anything that might catch fire. If it's wood framing wet down the area
with a spray bottle.

R

nowforsale

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Oct 21, 2006, 8:08:22 PM10/21/06

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"RB" <rb...@bellsouth.nospam.net> wrote in message
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a dremel tool with cut off wheels cuts through even hardened steel nuts and
bolts, though can be a very dangerous tool capable of causing bodily injury
or even death

Oren

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Oct 21, 2006, 8:29:57 PM10/21/06

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On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:26:16 -0500, "RB" <rb...@bellsouth.nospam.net>
wrote:

Not a chance for bolt cutters?
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

GWB

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Oct 21, 2006, 9:50:21 PM10/21/06

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I don't see a smiley face, so I gotta assume you're serious.
What is the body count on Dremel injuries??

BobK207

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Oct 21, 2006, 10:10:02 PM10/21/06

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A sharp chisel in a "hammer only" tool.....(I have a Hilti tool that
can drill & hammer OR hammer only)

MIGHT do the job

IF the nut / bolt is old/rusted....if it's a new installation & you've
got a low strength bolt it could just wind up "mushing over".

How burly is your is your air tool?
Is the bolt backed up by something stiff like concrete or is it backed
up by wood?

The success of the chisel appproach will be dictated by how stiff the
backing is, how britttle the bolt is & how burly your chisel tool is.

I used to break off A193B7 rods (alloy steel heat treated ) embedded in
concrete by "nicking" with a 4" grinder & then hammering back & forth
(a very few blows) until they broke

I'd be prepared to Sawzall, Dremel or die grind as back up methods

cheers
Bob

nowforsale

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Oct 21, 2006, 10:25:37 PM10/21/06

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"GWB" <gwb...@eatel.net> wrote in message
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serious comes from working with a dremel tool in person

don't know the body count and chances are the dremel company would not share
its information regarding litigation it has been in regarding injuries under
strict liability in tort, which most large companies like dremel have
undoubtedly had

Bob M.

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Oct 22, 2006, 7:54:36 PM10/22/06

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"RB" <rb...@bellsouth.nospam.net> wrote in message
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Get an electric hand-held grinder, cut thru it in 30 seconds easily.