Hi all,

My contractor put in a steel pole for a basketball net, its cemented in the
ground. However, its turned to the side, so when I mount the backboard, it
will not face the driveway. The backboard mounts to the pole with bolts
that go through the pole.

This was a freebie and I have more pressing problems with my GC, so I'm
thinking to just drill new holes in the pole. I forgot to measure the
holes, but I think they're about 1/2" diam. So here are my questions:

- Do I need a high RPM drill? How much RPM is needed?
- Is there a special bit that will do this, or should I plan on using
several bits from pilot hole up to full size?
- Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance,

S

mrsgator88 wrote:

My contractor put in a steel pole for a basketball net, its cemented in the
ground. However, its turned to the side, so when I mount the backboard, it
will not face the driveway. The backboard mounts to the pole with bolts
that go through the pole.

This was a freebie and I have more pressing problems with my GC, so I'm
thinking to just drill new holes in the pole. I forgot to measure the
holes, but I think they're about 1/2" diam. So here are my questions:

- Do I need a high RPM drill? How much RPM is needed?

No. Pretty much any drill will do. I find ~1000 RPM to be about
right. Too fast and you'll burn up the bits and it doesn't cut all
that much more quickly.

- Is there a special bit that will do this, or should I plan on using
several bits from pilot hole up to full size?

There are step bits that have graduated hole sizes on a conical
(ziggurat, actually) shaped bit, but you probably won't need one for a
couple of holes. Just work your way up through the bit sizes.

- Anything else I should know?

The new holes will expose bare steel to the elements, so either prime
them with some anti-rust primer or use some caulk to prevent water from
rusting the bare metal. That'll just bubble the paint and the rust
will spread.

R

Drill 1/4" hole first. Then 1/2". Use plenty of oil. I would get newer
nitrided drill bits (gold colored).
"mrsgator88" wrote in message
news
Hi all,

My contractor put in a steel pole for a basketball net, its cemented in
the ground. However, its turned to the side, so when I mount the
backboard, it will not face the driveway. The backboard mounts to the
pole with bolts that go through the pole.

This was a freebie and I have more pressing problems with my GC, so I'm
thinking to just drill new holes in the pole. I forgot to measure the
holes, but I think they're about 1/2" diam. So here are my questions:

- Do I need a high RPM drill? How much RPM is needed?
- Is there a special bit that will do this, or should I plan on using
several bits from pilot hole up to full size?
- Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance,

S

mrsgator88 wrote:
Hi all,

My contractor put in a steel pole for a basketball net, its cemented
in the ground. However, its turned to the side, so when I mount the
backboard, it will not face the driveway. The backboard mounts to
the pole with bolts that go through the pole.

This was a freebie and I have more pressing problems with my GC, so
I'm thinking to just drill new holes in the pole. I forgot to
measure the holes, but I think they're about 1/2" diam. So here are
my questions:
- Do I need a high RPM drill? How much RPM is needed?
- Is there a special bit that will do this, or should I plan on using
several bits from pilot hole up to full size?
- Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance,

Basic rule: the harder the material, the slower the bit speed (i.e.,
wood=fast, steel=slow).

But wouldn't brackets (like used for attaching to fence posts) be easier?

mrsgator88 wrote:
Hi all,

My contractor put in a steel pole for a basketball net, its cemented in the
ground. However, its turned to the side, so when I mount the backboard, it
will not face the driveway. The backboard mounts to the pole with bolts
that go through the pole.

This was a freebie and I have more pressing problems with my GC, so I'm
thinking to just drill new holes in the pole. I forgot to measure the
holes, but I think they're about 1/2" diam. So here are my questions:

- Do I need a high RPM drill? How much RPM is needed?
- Is there a special bit that will do this, or should I plan on using
several bits from pilot hole up to full size?
- Anything else I should know?
....

Don't know precisely the mounting geometry but would seem far easier
and better for getting the height set precisely to simply use a u-bolt
around the pole rather than try to drill the pipe itself. You may need
to fabricate a bracket out of angle to mount to the backboard if it has
only a single point, but it's whole lot easier to do that on the ground
and then put the thing on the pole and raise it and tighten a couple of
u-bolts than to try to drill holes in precisely the right location
balancing on a ladder 10-ft in the air on a round pole...

Not if they are from a reputable company and say titanium nitride coating.
wrote in message
ups.com...
those gold colored bits here are pure junk, buy dewalt or other name
brand.

gold is spiffy color to fool you into buying pure junk

Thanks everyone for your advice. I did drill the holes. Started with
a thin bit (1/8" perhaps, I don't recall) which only put a small divot
in the pole. Went to a larger bit (probably 1/4" or 3/8") which tore
through the steel pretty nice. Then went to the 1/2" bit to finish the
job. It was really pretty easy, just my 12v cordless and cheap old
bits, and I was done in 10 or 15 minutes.

S