Greetings and salutations...
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 07:12:08 GMT, Gunner
wrote:
On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 09:39:14 -0400, "Rod" wrote:
I'm working with 2" angle iron from home depot making a frame that will
support a dc winch motor for rolling a pool cover onto a spool. I'm having a
hard time with drilling and cutting slots.
I'm trying to drill several 1/2" holes using a bench drill press. Using
pilot holes I'm able to work my way up to 3/8" holes with no problem but as
soon as I go for the 1/2" bit it just spins and spins and doesn't want to
cut anymore. I end up forcing it down pretty hard to get through and it
takes for ever, what's the trick?
Measure the web of your half inch drill bit, and use a pilot drill no
bigger than that web thickness, then drill the pilot, followed by the
1/2" drill. Or simply center punch and drill with the 1/2" using no
pilots. Which is the preferred method.
Or...spring for one of the Irwin Step Bits. It is a TAD
pricy, but, is a great way to drill larger holes in metal. Get a real
one, though...as I am not sure how good a metal the clones use.
The next question that I had was, I need to cut some slots into the angle
also, so that the dc motor that I'm mounting can be adjusted a little, I've
been using a cutting torch to cut some slots but with my skills they come
out extremely messy, any good advice or ways to cut these with standard
tools? (drill, jig saw, sawzall)?
Drill a series of holes, and clean up between them with a file, jigsaw
etc.
Or buy a milling machine.
I would put a big thumbs up for the milling machine
suggestion! After all, one of the "project rules" is that it should
require a machine we don't have yet. That is why I am building
a drum sander, after all...(*smile*).
However, I have had good luck with drilling a hole at
each end of the slot, and cutting walls with a sabre saw. Of
course, the length of the slots make a diffence too. For slots
of an inch or so, I probably WOULD drill a series of holes
and use a file/grinder to flatten the cusps down.
*snip*
regards
Dave Mundt
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