cutting a flex shaft

[bwells]

I need to shorten a flex shaft and assume that a dremel would be the best way over a hacksaw. Also, I assume that it is best to cut in the direction of the winding as opposed to cross grain. If the dremel is the ticket, what blade would I need and what is it called? Thanks

[JMSCARD]

I use a standard dremel with the reinforced cutoff blade.... its is a thin reinforced circle type... I buy mine at walmar.... they slice right through.... I don't even pay attention to which way I cut it I just cut straight accross and scuff the edges if thy are sharp... then I have got in the habbit of "tinning" the last 3/4.or so with solder to keep it from "unwrapping".... I've never had flexshaft problems..... now esc's thats a whole other story....LOL.:) good luck.... but its a fairly easy process...

[tiqueman]

I just cut one a few hours ago. I use the heavy duty cut off wheels. The black glass fiber type, not the brownish red ones that break easily. But those work too.

[bwells]

So a carbon blade verses a metal blade is the way to go? Abrasion wins over metal?

[longballlumber]

Do not use the metal blade for cutting metallic materials

use this http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachme...l.aspx?pid=409

or this http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachme...l.aspx?pid=426

Check out Dremel's site they offer a lot of info on which attachemnts do what...

Later,
Mike

[BHChieftain]

I just cut one last month using the dremel cutting wheel-- was very easy. WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

Also, keep your motor away as metal dust will love your magnets.

Chief

[electric]

Yes, wear eye protection. It cuts fine, but those red wheels tend to break and fly off in all directions at high speed on a pretty regular basis. I never have given the wind a thought, just cut it off no problems.

[Eodman]

After cutting I take the cut edge to a grind stone - turn as you lightly grind any rough edges and then I tin the end also!

[JimClark]

haven't tried it yet but I wonder if you silver soldered the area that is cut if it would hold it together better?

[Eodman]

What would be the difference in tinning with plain solder vs silver solder? Just curious -- have done 4 or 5 with regular solder and never had 1 fail!

[JMSCARD]

haven't tried it yet but I wonder if you silver soldered the area that is cut if it would hold it together better?

Thats what I do to mine... and what I mean by "tinning" the end.... heat up the end real well and coat with a very light layer of solder... works very well...

[JimClark]

I have always heard to use silver solder never tried regular solder but then this is only my 2nd boat with a flex shaft. I think Silver solder is much harder than regular solder

[pescador]

For 3/16" shafts in my nitro boats I use a pair of cheap ebay cable cutters and touch up the end on a grinding wheel.
There seems to be some debate on whether to solder or not I think it was something to do with the end deforming in the collet.
I don't solder mine but one of our club members who does uses a piece of brass tubing with one end pinched, heats it with a torch, fills it with solder and then dips the end of the flex in the solder.

The cable cutters look like these and they work pretty slick

[crabstick]

my dremel is getting a bit tired. Last time I cut one, I taped where I want to cut it with electrical tape and cut it carefully through the tape with the hacksaw. Worked mint, didn't unravel

[electric]

I have done it twice where I did not even bother with solder and had no problems with either. I know, you should solder, just pointing out not to get to hung up on it. I would just break out the solder iron and do it for insurance.