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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be
centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. |
#2
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote:
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. Mark out the 1/2" hole carefully, drill a pilot hole in the center, and file it to the mark. If you have a well-lit bench and can get the workpiece into a vise, it's easy. Take ten or twenty minutes. In mass production, you could broach or drill it. |
#3
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in
aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. |
#4
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
whit3rd wrote:
If you have a well-lit bench I have the best possible lighting, always and everywhere http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1080_.jpg |
#5
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote:
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. I'd suggest that with some sand, some durable fingernails, and months of time, you might be able to erode a _somewhat_squarISH_ hole in a thin sheet of aluminum. NO tools? Really? Lloyd |
#6
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
"John Doe" wrote in message
... I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. If the tops of the fixed and moving jaws on your bench vise are the same height you can use them as a filing guide. If not you could rig up something, perhaps with a drill press vise or steel bar stock. Lay out your square with a sharp scriber, drill out the middle and use a coarse file to approach the line, then align the scribe mark with the top of the jaws and use a safe-edged "hand" or "pillar" file to finish cutting up to it. The tops of the jaws guide the file perpendicular to the hole as you near the line. http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Pill.../dp/B006P2XM2U With care you should be able to file within 0.005" of the intended size. --jsw |
#7
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
"Jim Wilkins" fired this volley in news:nec9kg$nmf$1
@dont-email.me: With care you should be able to file within 0.005" of the intended With a bar (for sizing) the intended size of the hole, he could get it within 0.0005"; but he said "NO tools". So a file is out, too! Lloyd |
#8
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:04:14 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. Answer: Rent a machinist. No can do otherwise. I'd suggest that with some sand, some durable fingernails, and months of time, you might be able to erode a _somewhat_squarISH_ hole in a thin sheet of aluminum. g I'd use my ShopFox Mortising Machine and end up with a perfectly square 1/2" hole. Many aluminum alloys aren't much tougher than wood. NO tools? Really? The troll gotcha, did he? -- If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up! --anon |
#9
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
... On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:04:14 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. Answer: Rent a machinist. No can do otherwise. My high school shop teacher was a retired Swedish cabinet maker who taught us the traditional skills, like how to hone a wood plane blade or joint, file and set the teeth on a handsaw. Before turning us loose on the power tools he required us to plane a block of wood square enough to pass the sliver of light test with a try square. While I sure do appreciate power tools I don't have to depend on them. One of Friday's projects was filing angled slots for Tie-Wraps to attach a large capacitor to an aluminum panel. --jsw |
#10
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
Any normal human being would understand that.
Of course it isn't to be taken literally. Take a break from the 99% off-topic trolling in this group and think about metalworking for a minute... Or don't. I've probably researched it thoroughly enough anyway. As you were... "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote in . 4.170: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. I'd suggest that with some sand, some durable fingernails, and months of time, you might be able to erode a _somewhat_squarISH_ hole in a thin sheet of aluminum. NO tools? Really? Lloyd |
#11
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:30:59 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote: "Larry Jaques" wrote in message .. . On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:04:14 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. Answer: Rent a machinist. No can do otherwise. My high school shop teacher was a retired Swedish cabinet maker who taught us the traditional skills, like how to hone a wood plane blade or joint, file and set the teeth on a handsaw. Ditto in my 8th grade wood and metal shops, but we didn't have the experienced cabinetmaker to guide us, just a guy who had done wood and metalworking non-professionally. He followed a guide and had enough experience to guide us through the basic skill building. I loved it all. But with no tools, the answer is still "rent a machinist", oui? Before turning us loose on the power tools he required us to plane a block of wood square enough to pass the sliver of light test with a try square. That's the way to roll, too. Learn the basics and get the skills before ruining yourself on power tools. While I sure do appreciate power tools I don't have to depend on them. I've been a Neanderthal woodworker for a long time, but the older I get, the more I need power tools to get the precision. There is almost no way to take 1/32 off a stick with a hand saw and keep it square (and/or properly angled), but with a miter saw, it's a piece of cake. Ditto adjusting angles a skosh to fit. One of Friday's projects was filing angled slots for Tie-Wraps to attach a large capacitor to an aluminum panel. Cool. It's great be able to do it right and make it look good as well as having it work well. -- If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up! --anon |
#12
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum withouttools?
Square drilling drills ... Broach is best. Router type tool won't
stand up to the wobble of the special drills. Drill and use a square file or drill and press a square broach through. Easy enough. Martin On 4/9/2016 7:11 PM, John Doe wrote: Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. |
#13
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sat, 9 Apr 2016 17:10:21 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd
wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. Mark out the 1/2" hole carefully, drill a pilot hole in the center, and file it to the mark. If you have a well-lit bench and can get the workpiece into a vise, it's easy. Take ten or twenty minutes. In mass production, you could broach or drill it. Or push a piece of 1/2" square steel through it with a press |
#14
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:36:21 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote: "Jim Wilkins" fired this volley in news:nec9kg$nmf$1 : With care you should be able to file within 0.005" of the intended With a bar (for sizing) the intended size of the hole, he could get it within 0.0005"; but he said "NO tools". So a file is out, too! Lloyd Does a rock and a piece of 1/2" thickwall tubing count as "tools"? |
#15
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum withouttools?
On 4/9/2016 7:14 PM, John Doe wrote:
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. Jeweler's saw |
#16
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:11:01 -0000 (UTC), John Doe
wrote: Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. Great. You designated a square. How do you cut the 90 degree corners with a round tool bit? Or as you say, "don't take it literally", can the "square" have round corners? I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. -- Cheers, John B. |
#17
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 03:19:14 -0000 (UTC), John Doe
wrote: Any normal human being would understand that. Of course it isn't to be taken literally. Well, was it intended that the dimensions of the hole be also not taken literally? If so just take a punch and bash a hole in the damned thing. Take a break from the 99% off-topic trolling in this group and think about metalworking for a minute... Or don't. I've probably researched it thoroughly enough anyway. As you were... "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote in . 4.170: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. I'd suggest that with some sand, some durable fingernails, and months of time, you might be able to erode a _somewhat_squarISH_ hole in a thin sheet of aluminum. NO tools? Really? Lloyd -- Cheers, John B. |
#18
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
I never said "don't take it literally". When someone says something that
cannot be taken literally, then normal people assume it means something less than the literal meaning. Every square is going to have round corners. According to my research, some sophisticated tools for cutting square holes leave rounded corners. In my case, they can be significantly rounded, but I'm probably not going to spend that much for this project. John B. wrote in : On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:11:01 -0000 (UTC), John Doe wrote: Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. Great. You designated a square. How do you cut the 90 degree corners with a round tool bit? Or as you say, "don't take it literally", can the "square" have round corners? I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. |
#19
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
... On Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:30:59 -0400, "Jim Wilkins" wrote: "Larry Jaques" wrote in message . .. On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:04:14 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. --------------- Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction. Answer: Rent a machinist. No can do otherwise. My high school shop teacher was a retired Swedish cabinet maker who taught us the traditional skills, like how to hone a wood plane blade or joint, file and set the teeth on a handsaw. Ditto in my 8th grade wood and metal shops, but we didn't have the experienced cabinetmaker to guide us, just a guy who had done wood and metalworking non-professionally. He followed a guide and had enough experience to guide us through the basic skill building. I loved it all. But with no tools, the answer is still "rent a machinist", oui? Although I could barely qualify as a blacksmith's apprentice I've learned about a lot of pre-industrial methods, beginning when I was 5 years old, watching the foundry men next door create replacement castings for old textile machinery by hand-carving sand molds to templates. Trying to apply these methods strongly motivated me to acquire machine tools. My machine tools are too small for some of my projects and I still need to hand-fit some things, for example squaring the sawed end of 1-1/4" pipe that won't fit through my lathe spindle. With no tools and no skill the answer is to pay someone who does have them or find a hobby that's less challenging than metalworking. If there was some easy way to shape metal precisely without the lathe and mill that 200 years of experience have shown to be necessary and adequate we wouldn't have spent the money to buy them. 17th century methods get you 17th century results. "I've been a Neanderthal woodworker for a long time, but the older I get, the more I need power tools to get the precision." I actually worked with Mickey Mouse once, a man who had played him for Disney, and despite what they say he was a pretty good craftsman. --jsw |
#20
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 11:08:12 -0000 (UTC), John Doe
wrote: I never said "don't take it literally". When someone says something that cannot be taken literally, then normal people assume it means something less than the literal meaning. Every square is going to have round corners. According to my research, some sophisticated tools for cutting square holes leave rounded corners. In my case, they can be significantly rounded, but I'm probably not going to spend that much for this project. You say square and the definition of "square" is "a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon". No mention of round corners there whatsoever. So if you have rationalized your square to be something else perhaps you should have described your fantasy before asking how to make it. : On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:11:01 -0000 (UTC), John Doe wrote: Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. Great. You designated a square. How do you cut the 90 degree corners with a round tool bit? Or as you say, "don't take it literally", can the "square" have round corners? I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. -- Cheers, John B. |
#21
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
"John Doe" wrote in message
... I never said "don't take it literally". When someone says something that cannot be taken literally, then normal people assume it means something less than the literal meaning. Every square is going to have round corners. According to my research, some sophisticated tools for cutting square holes leave rounded corners. In my case, they can be significantly rounded, but I'm probably not going to spend that much for this project. A file with the edge ground smooth cuts corners square enough that you need a microscope to show otherwise. This is what a master craftsman (not me) can do with a file: http://pistolsmith.com/workshop/1084...-dovetail.html --jsw |
#22
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 11:08:12 -0000 (UTC), John Doe
wrote: I never said "don't take it literally". When someone says something that cannot be taken literally, then normal people assume it means something less than the literal meaning. Every square is going to have round corners. According to my research, some sophisticated tools for cutting square holes leave rounded corners. In my case, they can be significantly rounded, but I'm probably not going to spend that much for this project. John B. wrote in : On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:11:01 -0000 (UTC), John Doe wrote: Researching the issue... I see some ways to drill a square hole in aluminum for hundreds of dollars. Seems to me an inexpensive do-it-yourself way to do this slowly would be to place a stencil pattern square over the material and then use a drill or rotary tool with the cutting surface of the bit below the pattern. And just move the tool around until it hacks the hole square. It might be accurate enough if done carefully. But the rotary tool needs to be held perpendicular while being moved around. I guess it could be done on a rotary/router type table, while moving the material instead of the cutting tool. Any keywords for that sort of thing? Thanks. Great. You designated a square. How do you cut the 90 degree corners with a round tool bit? Or as you say, "don't take it literally", can the "square" have round corners? I wrote: I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. You know, I used to give you some metalworking tips and then you got snotty about it, so you're not going to get any more out of me. But I can give you a piece of advice that will help you get better answers from others. The people on this NG know every way under the sun to make "square" holes, and that's been a challenge for machinists for a couple of hundred years. As soon as you said "perfectly square," the folks here rolled their eyes, because that's a sure indicator that you have no idea what you're talking about, and your options are limited to the things that a tyro might be able to accomplish. That really puts some limits on what they're going to suggest. There is no "perfectly square." The question is, what are you going to do with that hole, once you've cut it? Maybe it doesn't matter if the hole you drill to start it goes over the line a bit. If that's so, then you can use your hand drill, or whatever you have, to drill a 1/2" starter hole. If you can't, and have to drill a smaller hole, then you're in for some heavy filing, or you're going to need a diemaker's single-side chisel to rough out the hole. Don't have one of those? Then you'll need a coarse double-cut square file to do the job in maybe 10 - 20 minutes. Don't have one of those? If you have to use a slim-taper triangular file, you're in for an hour or so of filing, with lots of stops to use your file card and you'll have to keep de-pinning your file, because fine-cut files are terrible in aluminum. Don't have those? Then, for chrissake, tell us what you're going to use the hole for. Then the people here who have done it can tell you what your options are. Unless they have an idea of how "clean" that hole has to be (in other words, if it has to be free of overcut with the drill), and how straight the sides have to be, and how square the hole has to be, and what radius you can tolerate on the corners, you'll go around in circles trying to figure out how to cut a square. So, instead of just specifying a "perfectly square" hole gag!, tell people what you're trying to do, and what the hole is for. Then you'll get right down to some useful suggestions -- but not from me. Are we OK now? -- Ed Huntress |
#23
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 8:17:32 PM UTC-4, John Doe wrote:
whit3rd wrote: If you have a well-lit bench I have the best possible lighting, always and everywhere http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1080_.jpg I assume " no tools " really means no expensive tools. But even there I run into trouble. If I were doing it I would use a drill press to remove most of the material. And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ". Dan |
#24
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 05:41:08 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 8:17:32 PM UTC-4, John Doe wrote: whit3rd wrote: If you have a well-lit bench I have the best possible lighting, always and everywhere http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1080_.jpg I assume " no tools " really means no expensive tools. But even there I run into trouble. If I were doing it I would use a drill press to remove most of the material. And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ". Dan Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g I think he's stuck with Tom's suggestion of using a jeweler's saw and finishing with a regular fine-tooth triangular file, unless he has chisels and coarse-tooth files made for aluminum. -- Ed Huntress |
#25
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum withouttools?
John Doe wrote:
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have to be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct. I'd like to use a router type tool that I made, but the aluminum would have to be perfectly square. Any tricky way to do that? Thanks. No way to cut a square hole with a round bit. Not possible. But making SQUARE holes with no rounded areas is done every day. You have two options - Drill a round hole and use a file, chisel, broach or EMD to make it square. Or used a punch and die to make it. That being said, What will this hole need to do? You may actually want a square shaped hole with radiused corners to reduce the potential for cracks to start. -- Steve W. |
#26
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9:02:09 AM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote:
Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g -- Ed Huntress Don't need one. Can put on some dyken and scribe the aluminum so I have a line to file to. Dan |
#27
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:10:33 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9:02:09 AM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g -- Ed Huntress Don't need one. Can put on some dyken and scribe the aluminum so I have a line to file to. Dan And that's how I would do it. But your sentence said you'd use files "along with a machinists square to ' file to fit,' so I was pulling your leg about filing to fit, using a machinist's square. d8-) If you talk to him further, tell him how to do that layout, and to scribe diagonals to find center for drilling the hole, and about prick punches and center punches... If you get that far. -- Ed Huntress |
#28
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 12:53:37 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote:
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:10:33 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9:02:09 AM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g -- Ed Huntress Don't need one. Can put on some dyken and scribe the aluminum so I have a line to file to. Dan And that's how I would do it. But your sentence said you'd use files "along with a machinists square to ' file to fit,' so I was pulling your leg about filing to fit, using a machinist's square. d8-) If you talk to him further, tell him how to do that layout, and to scribe diagonals to find center for drilling the hole, and about prick punches and center punches... If you get that far. -- Ed Huntress I definitely said that I would use files. Along with a vise to hold the part, a well lit shop with heat, a scribe and dykem as well as a machinists square. Dan |
#29
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 11:36:12 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 12:53:37 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:10:33 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9:02:09 AM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g -- Ed Huntress Don't need one. Can put on some dyken and scribe the aluminum so I have a line to file to. Dan And that's how I would do it. But your sentence said you'd use files "along with a machinists square to ' file to fit,' so I was pulling your leg about filing to fit, using a machinist's square. d8-) If you talk to him further, tell him how to do that layout, and to scribe diagonals to find center for drilling the hole, and about prick punches and center punches... If you get that far. -- Ed Huntress I definitely said that I would use files. Along with a vise to hold the part, a well lit shop with heat, a scribe and dykem as well as a machinists square. Dan Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. I know what you meant. I also know what the syntax of your sentence said. Jeez, I was only pulling your leg. I've been editing today, too, and syntax is something I edit. g -- Ed Huntress |
#30
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00:54 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote:
Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. -- Ed Huntress The file to fit came from Mil spec MILTPFO. Along with"cut to size, file to fit, and paint to match." 8-) Dan |
#31
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:13:33 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00:54 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. -- Ed Huntress The file to fit came from Mil spec MILTPFO. Along with"cut to size, file to fit, and paint to match." 8-) Dan That's fine. But they aren't saying "file to fit" a machinist's square. Here's your sentence again: 'And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ".' If that appeared in an article that I was editing, in an article for a non-machinist, I'd correct the ambiguity by re-writing it: "And then would use some small files, after using a machinist's square to lay it out, filing to fit' the part you're fitting into the square hole." You just interjected the "along with a machinist's square" in a way that makes it unclear what you're fitting to. It's a minor syntax issue. I wouldn't have commented except that you left an opening to make a wisecrack. -- Ed Huntress |
#32
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
wrote in message ... On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00:54 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. -- Ed Huntress The file to fit came from Mil spec MILTPFO. Along with"cut to size, file to fit, and paint to match." 8-) Dan It looks more authentic as MIL-TFP41. |
#33
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:23:20 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote:
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:13:33 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00:54 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. You are right, but only if one ignores that title of the thread. Anyone reading it knows the hole is in 1/4 aluminum. So it is not ambiguous to the readers of the thread. The words " along with " indicate that one is using both files and a machinist square to make the hole. To me " file to fit " involks laying out the work, trying the part to see if it fits, filing some more , retrying to see if it fits, etc. No biggie. But I do not think there was any ambiguity. Dan -- Ed Huntress The file to fit came from Mil spec MILTPFO. Along with"cut to size, file to fit, and paint to match." 8-) Dan That's fine. But they aren't saying "file to fit" a machinist's square. Here's your sentence again: 'And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ".' If that appeared in an article that I was editing, in an article for a non-machinist, I'd correct the ambiguity by re-writing it: "And then would use some small files, after using a machinist's square to lay it out, filing to fit' the part you're fitting into the square hole." You just interjected the "along with a machinist's square" in a way that makes it unclear what you're fitting to. It's a minor syntax issue. I wouldn't have commented except that you left an opening to make a wisecrack. -- Ed Huntress |
#34
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:35:24 PM UTC-4, Jim Wilkins wrote:
It looks more authentic as MIL-TFP41. You are right. It has been some time since I have seen that mil spec referenced. Dan |
#35
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
wrote in message ... On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:35:24 PM UTC-4, Jim Wilkins wrote: It looks more authentic as MIL-TFP41. You are right. It has been some time since I have seen that mil spec referenced. Dan Probably by me, when I was drawing schematics for the Air Force. I should have written MIL-TFP-41. |
#36
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:44:02 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:23:20 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:13:33 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00:54 PM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Yeah, you did. And you said you'd use a machinist's square and "file to fit." Fit what? The machinist's square is what your sentence said. You weren't filing to fit the file. You are right, but only if one ignores that title of the thread. Anyone reading it knows the hole is in 1/4 aluminum. So it is not ambiguous to the readers of the thread. The words " along with " indicate that one is using both files and a machinist square to make the hole. To me " file to fit " involks laying out the work, trying the part to see if it fits, filing some more , retrying to see if it fits, etc. No biggie. But I do not think there was any ambiguity. Dan Keep in mind that the OP may not know how a machinist's square is used for layout in this case. In fact, unless we know the overall configuration of his part, *we* don't know how best to lay it out. To stick to proper sheet/plate layout practice, you'd need a surface plate and an angle plate (or, in my case, a granite layout cube). So, writing for wide levels of audience knowledge, I tend to be careful about avoiding confusion. You weren't confusing us but that would have confused someone who knows nothing about metalworking. As you say, it's not a big deal. Nearly everyone here knows what you're talking about. I just thought you'd realize how your syntax got things out of order, and potentially could lead to misunderstanding. -- Ed Huntress -- Ed Huntress The file to fit came from Mil spec MILTPFO. Along with"cut to size, file to fit, and paint to match." 8-) Dan That's fine. But they aren't saying "file to fit" a machinist's square. Here's your sentence again: 'And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ".' If that appeared in an article that I was editing, in an article for a non-machinist, I'd correct the ambiguity by re-writing it: "And then would use some small files, after using a machinist's square to lay it out, filing to fit' the part you're fitting into the square hole." You just interjected the "along with a machinist's square" in a way that makes it unclear what you're fitting to. It's a minor syntax issue. I wouldn't have commented except that you left an opening to make a wisecrack. -- Ed Huntress |
#37
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:02:01 -0400, Ed Huntress
wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 05:41:08 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 8:17:32 PM UTC-4, John Doe wrote: whit3rd wrote: If you have a well-lit bench I have the best possible lighting, always and everywhere http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1080_.jpg I assume " no tools " really means no expensive tools. But even there I run into trouble. If I were doing it I would use a drill press to remove most of the material. And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ". Dan Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g I think he's stuck with Tom's suggestion of using a jeweler's saw and finishing with a regular fine-tooth triangular file, unless he has chisels and coarse-tooth files made for aluminum. One of the first suggestions the bloke got was "drill a half inch hole and file it square". Maybe 15 minutes of work.... if you have to look for the drill bit :-) -- Cheers, John B. |
#38
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:53:29 -0400, Ed Huntress
wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:10:33 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 9:02:09 AM UTC-4, Ed Huntress wrote: Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g -- Ed Huntress Don't need one. Can put on some dyken and scribe the aluminum so I have a line to file to. Dan And that's how I would do it. But your sentence said you'd use files "along with a machinists square to ' file to fit,' so I was pulling your leg about filing to fit, using a machinist's square. d8-) If you talk to him further, tell him how to do that layout, and to scribe diagonals to find center for drilling the hole, and about prick punches and center punches... If you get that far. Gee, isn't that getting pretty technical :-) (The old fellow who was the apprentice master" when I did mine had served a 6 year apprenticeship and said that the first year they showed him how to use a broom and second year he got to use a file.) For his Journeyman's "test" he made a surface plate..... by hand. -- Cheers, John B. |
#39
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Mon, 11 Apr 2016 19:15:33 +0700, John B.
wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:02:01 -0400, Ed Huntress wrote: On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 05:41:08 -0700 (PDT), " wrote: On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 8:17:32 PM UTC-4, John Doe wrote: whit3rd wrote: If you have a well-lit bench I have the best possible lighting, always and everywhere http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1080_.jpg I assume " no tools " really means no expensive tools. But even there I run into trouble. If I were doing it I would use a drill press to remove most of the material. And then would use some small files along with a machinists square to " file to fit ". Dan Do you have a machinist's square that will get inside of a 1/2" hole? g I think he's stuck with Tom's suggestion of using a jeweler's saw and finishing with a regular fine-tooth triangular file, unless he has chisels and coarse-tooth files made for aluminum. One of the first suggestions the bloke got was "drill a half inch hole and file it square". Maybe 15 minutes of work.... if you have to look for the drill bit :-) Rolls-Royce had an employment test for budding machinists. They gave him a steel plate with a square hole and a round brass bar. The test was to file the bar square on the end so it fit into the hole, with no light visible when it was held up to a bright light. This was in the early 1920s. -- Ed Huntress |
#40
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Cut an accurate 1/2" square hole through 1/4" aluminum without tools?
On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 15:54:51 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote: wrote in message ... On Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:35:24 PM UTC-4, Jim Wilkins wrote: It looks more authentic as MIL-TFP41. You are right. It has been some time since I have seen that mil spec referenced. Dan Probably by me, when I was drawing schematics for the Air Force. I should have written MIL-TFP-41. This just in: MIL-TFD-41c -- If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up! --anon |
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