[lcampbell89]

So I am trying to get my proportioning valve off, and at this point I have to cutoff the bolts attached to. But that is a pretty tight space I am not really too sure on what to use to cut it off. I thought about using a dremel but it just doesn't seem like the right angle. Or I could get a grinder and use a cut off wheel on it. Then I thought about using a sawzall but just doesn't seem like the best option. Finally I saw the dewalt multi oscillating tool.

Suggestions would be great as I have to buy one of these and would like the one that leaves me the most options. Once again that is a pretty tight space.

Thanks
Lee

 

[RWise]

If they are through bolts, and the heads are not rounded off, I would use a breaker bar and tighten them until they break! Many will twist right off easily!

 

[Ken4444]

An angle grinder with either a cutoff disk or a grinding wheel might work, but there are drawbacks. Such a tool will kick and jump around. It is difficult to cut at a specific place unless you have really good access to whatever you're cutting. The other problem is that you can only reach so far and cut so deep.

If you want to go cheap and only need the thing once or twice, you might consider this a Harbor Freight multifunction thing. I think a similar tool is made by other vendors too. Be careful about Harbor Freight's reputation for selling tools that sometimes don't work for very long, or at all.

 

[Mike Romain]

When I did my frame off 'glass tub install, I found a dremil tool with the fibreglass reinforced cut off wheels to be a real handy tool. It fits in tight spots and cuts really well.

I cut out my firewall to use as a template for cutting the glass one out and did one of the cuts with an angle grinder and cut wheel which shot tons of sparks and made rough edge. I then switched over to the dremil tool which made a much cleaner cut and was almost as fast.

Dremil tool and glass reinforced cut wheel is also great for doing things like cutting slots in torx head bolts for a flat head screwdriver to fit.

 

[my_304_cj7]

Why not drill through them with progressively larger bits until the head falls off?

 

[hasselback]

Be careful of grinders with cut off wheels, they can bite! I did this while laying underneath trying to cut off a bolt. Left a hefty scar!

 

[mscout118]

I had to cut mine off a couple of weeks ago. I used a dremel and small cut off wheel. Once the valve was off I cut the bolts down a bit and was able to pull them through the frame hole.

Duke

 

[dirtdudeaz]

My vote is for drill or cuttoff wheel. A lot cleaner than recip saw as you had mentioned and faster than dremmel. If you have limited space (exhaust, tub, crossmember, etc...) you could probably get a hacksaw on it.

Always use proper PPE too!

Haselback, I have done that a few times, even through gloves. The "nice" thing is when gridning or cutting, there is normally not much blood because the wheel cauterizes it at the same time!

 

[walkerhoundvm]

Haselback, I have done that a few times, even through gloves. The "nice" thing is when gridning or cutting, there is normally not much blood because the wheel cauterizes it at the same time!

Same here - damn near cut off my index finger. No blood and no pain - cautery and cut the nerves at the same time, double bonus! Healed like crap though, took a couple months and kept opening up after it scarred over.

 

[hasselback]

Same here - damn near cut off my index finger. No blood and no pain - cautery and cut the nerves at the same time, double bonus! Healed like crap though, took a couple months and kept opening up after it scarred over.

Even the scar will crack open and puss and bleed every so often now. It's real nice! Probably didn't help while it was scabbed up, every time I'd slide my hand into my pocket the scab would get peeled off.:crying:

Probably could of used a few stitches!

 

[JeepHammer]

Even the scar will crack open and puss and bleed every so often now. It's real nice! Probably didn't help while it was scabbed up, every time I'd slide my hand into my pocket the scab would get peeled off.:crying:

Probably could of used a few stitches!

GO TO THE DOCTOR! If you have puss coming out of a scar, you have a staff infection and need specialized antibiotics.

Ask me how I know that...

 

[walkerhoundvm]

^^Or you have some left-over junk in there^^ They heal best if you leave them open, cleaning them out daily with rubbing alcohol (but not too vigorously). Is it pus (yellow, thick, and stinky) or serum (yellowish, clear, not stinky)? Serum is normal, pus is not.

Ask me how I know that (12 years of vet school training )

 

[thantos858]

Be careful of grinders with cut off wheels, they can bite! I did this while laying underneath trying to cut off a bolt. Left a hefty scar!

Im more scared of wire wheels. Instead of a cut/burn they rip the skin off. I had a 4.5 inch grinder catch and come out of my hands only to hit me in the groin and leave a nice wound. Lucky no major damage as my shorts took the brunt of force. I now wear heavier clothes and leather gloves.

 

[my_304_cj7]

I prefer to not wear gloves when working with a wire wheel. Maybe it's false logic but I have had worse injuries from gloves getting caught up than the wire wheel hitting my hand.

 

[hasselback]

GO TO THE DOCTOR! If you have puss coming out of a scar, you have a staff infection and need specialized antibiotics.

Ask me how I know that...

Oh, that was a couple months ago. All good now. Next time around, I'm goin to get it stitched up though. Check out the scar!

 

[tdcanada]

Use the dremmel, it may be a bit slower but safer. Ive seen a man almost lose his arm to a grinder he had taken the guard off so he could get into tighter places. I also agree with the guy above about gloves. Out of high school worked in a fab shop...I saw a guy go t0 knock a long shaving off of a drill bit in a drill press with a gloved finger. It grabbed the glove and ripped most of the flesh off his finger. Ive also witnessed grinders and 1/2" drills wrap up in loose shirts that wont tear and almost choke a man out.
With all that said, I have not had to cut many bolts, most of the time if they are that rusted up you can break them.

 

[80cj]

When I did my frame off 'glass tub install, I found a dremil tool with the fibreglass reinforced cut off wheels to be a real handy tool. It fits in tight spots and cuts really well.

I cut out my firewall to use as a template for cutting the glass one out and did one of the cuts with an angle grinder and cut wheel which shot tons of sparks and made rough edge. I then switched over to the dremil tool which made a much cleaner cut and was almost as fast.

Dremil tool and glass reinforced cut wheel is also great for doing things like cutting slots in torx head bolts for a flat head screwdriver to fit.

I like the fiberglass reinforced wheel also. I have the 90 degree head for mine and it's come in handy several times.:thumbsup: