Toothbar, how to drill 3/4" holes easy?

[dfeck]

Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

Does anyone have a good method of drilling 3/4" holes to attach my toothbar? I'm sure some of you have tricks that will make the job easy. Do I use a smaller bit and work my way up to 3/4"? What is cutting oil and should I use it?


Thanks,

 

[gsganzer]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

Start with a small bit, say 1/8". Then move up to a medium bit, maybe 1/2 inch and then do your final 3/4" hole. Do the first hole and make sure you picked the correct bit sizes to prevent the bits from binding when you switch to the next size bit. You must use oil (even motor oil works) to keep the bits cool and run the drill very slow. If you see smoke, you're drilling too fast.

 

[DetroitMike]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

If the material is fairly thin, 1/8 or less, a Unibit works nice. They have one that goes to 3/4. Your better hardware or homecenter will have them. If not that then it's best to go up in small steps till you get to 3/4.

As far as cutting oil, it's best to use a oil made for drilling or tapping which may be found at a good hardware or some type of industrial supply like Grainger. If you can't find any, a light motor oil will help or even WD-40. You want to keep the bit from getting to hot.

Mike

 

[CTyler]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

The easy way is to use a torch.

If you or the person doing is good at all you will have a nice hole. If not you can clean it up with a die grinder. Assuming you care about have a perfect looking hole.

 

[hazmat]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

Drill 1/8" pilot & then use a hole saw. Go nice & slow & use oil. Uni-bit & stepping up bit sizes as previously mentioned work too.

You don't have to get fancy with the oil, use what you've got lying around - motor oil, air tool oil, whatever. It's all much better than nothing.

 

[MadReferee]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

Here is what I did. I used a bi-metal 3/4 inch hole saw and arbor with pilot bit. These can be purchased on the cheap from any hardware or home center for a couple of bucks. The metal in my Kubota bucket is fairly thin and very soft and the saw cut thru it like a hot knife thru butter, without any cutting fluid.

I was going to use one of my expensive Silver & Deming bits but I didn't want to take a chance on spinning it on the drill chuck causing a burr on the shaft. I typically use these in collets on my milling machine.

The hole saw was cheap and efficient.

 

[Henro]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

Not to keep repeating the same thing...my holes were 1"...hole saw took all of about a minute to cut the holes...almost as easy as drilling a pilot hole...

Fast...easy...efficient...

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

same as most above for the holes and I used chainsaw bar oil for the bits... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GaryM]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

I used the Unibits. They make a nice clean hole. And because they step up, you can use the beginning of the next size to deburr and create a nice smooth edge. Then just touch it a little from the other side and you'll have a beautiful hole.

The unibits are also the best I've found for enlarging existng holes with no muss or fuss. Particularly in thin materials. Very handy to have around the shop.

 

[Maxwell]

Re: Toothbar, how to drill 3/4\" holes easy?

At Home Depot, I found a 3/4" hole saw called the "Aggressor" by BLU-MOL. It attaches to a 3/8" hole saw mandrel with intergrated 1/4" drill bit in the center.

Just position the bucket at a comfortable working level. Put the washer in between the toothbar and the bucket. Line up by banging with a rubber mallet. When the washer is properly aligned trace the circle with a felt tip pen. Remove toothbar and washer and punch a starting dimple for accuracy. Begin drilling with hole saw with integrated ¼“ tip.

Simple job that takes less than 5 minutes.

Good luck!