Re: Making a hole bigger
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:06 am
While your at it I think you could make some cooler gussets. I know I would. Like these. Maybe just do a little work to the ones you have.
Matt
Matt
Page 2 of 2
Re: Making a hole bigger
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:17 pm
The only problem with a large drill bit in relatively thin metal is it will drill a 3 side hole if you don't have a strong drill press.
Re: Making a hole bigger
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:59 pm
Not to mention all the meat you have to remove, (vs a hole saw.)StPro wrote:The only problem with a large drill bit in relatively thin metal is it will drill a 3 side hole if you don't have a strong drill press.
Re: Making a hole bigger
Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:05 pm
Ok so I cut bigger holes in my crossmember, I don't think it came out that bad but will post what I did and what I think would have made the job easier and if I had it do over what I would have done different.
First off I did drill out the two front holes, that took about 2 minutes to enlarge them from 1/2" to 5/8", no pictures of that but I think everyone knows how that would be done.
On the rear crossmember plate where I wanted the larger holes I found these nylon bushings at the lumber yard that are a 1/2" around, preference would have been aluminum or steel of some kind but this is what I could get.
They fit right in the holes and made it so I could establish the center, so I clamped everything down and drilled pilot holes through the centers.
Then I tried to cut the hole with a hole saw, didn't work, the hole saw wandered all over the place and I could not drill through the center of the nylon bushing with the hole saw pilot drill, it just spun the bushing. So I drilled out the center of the bushing one step at a time until it would slip over the drill bit.
I had to tape the bit above the nylon part to keep in down far enough but I was able to cut the holes, here is the finished part.
I think they are pretty close if not dead on where they need to be, however this way lacked a lot of precision and was far too difficult so what would I do different?
The easiest method would have been to have a drill press (it is on the list) clamp the part on the table and use the bushing to get everything aligned then just cut with the hole saw mounted in the drill press.
Lacking a drill press as I am, if I was to do it over I would have clamped the crossmember to something steel or aluminum and used it to hold my hole saw pilot bit, as it was I had wood under mine, not so great to keep it from walking around so I had to have bushing on the bit like I did.
As it stands I can't push the spacer through the hole, I think I could hammer it through but don't want to do that, I will probably dress the edges with a stone and slightly chamfer the opening, I think I have a large angled grinding stone around here someplace for a die grinder.
I figured out that the hole really needs to be a little larger so the front plate can locate it properly but maybe everything will line up already.
See Ya,
Mike
First off I did drill out the two front holes, that took about 2 minutes to enlarge them from 1/2" to 5/8", no pictures of that but I think everyone knows how that would be done.
On the rear crossmember plate where I wanted the larger holes I found these nylon bushings at the lumber yard that are a 1/2" around, preference would have been aluminum or steel of some kind but this is what I could get.
They fit right in the holes and made it so I could establish the center, so I clamped everything down and drilled pilot holes through the centers.
Then I tried to cut the hole with a hole saw, didn't work, the hole saw wandered all over the place and I could not drill through the center of the nylon bushing with the hole saw pilot drill, it just spun the bushing. So I drilled out the center of the bushing one step at a time until it would slip over the drill bit.
I had to tape the bit above the nylon part to keep in down far enough but I was able to cut the holes, here is the finished part.
I think they are pretty close if not dead on where they need to be, however this way lacked a lot of precision and was far too difficult so what would I do different?
The easiest method would have been to have a drill press (it is on the list) clamp the part on the table and use the bushing to get everything aligned then just cut with the hole saw mounted in the drill press.
Lacking a drill press as I am, if I was to do it over I would have clamped the crossmember to something steel or aluminum and used it to hold my hole saw pilot bit, as it was I had wood under mine, not so great to keep it from walking around so I had to have bushing on the bit like I did.
As it stands I can't push the spacer through the hole, I think I could hammer it through but don't want to do that, I will probably dress the edges with a stone and slightly chamfer the opening, I think I have a large angled grinding stone around here someplace for a die grinder.
I figured out that the hole really needs to be a little larger so the front plate can locate it properly but maybe everything will line up already.
See Ya,
Mike