Want to drill hole in pallet fork for trailer ball.

[brokenknee]

I want to drill a hole at the end of one of my forks to mount a trailer ball from time to time to move my trailers around. I do have a drill press but do not have a 3/4" drill bit. This is a real fork not the soft steel some of the economy models are made of. I was wondering if a cheap flea bay bit would be up to the task. I know to start with a smaller bit and work my way up, but still concerned the bit may not be up to the task.

If I have to invest in a quality bit it may not be worth it. There is a local metal fabricator in town that has reasonable rates. I may check with him before I attempt this anyway.

Has anyone done something similar and how did it work for you? Recommendations? The trailers for the most part would not be loaded when moving them. I have a 14' dump trailer, a 16' equipment trailer and a small 12' utility trailer.

Here is the bit I was considering purchasing.

 

[JerryK]

Where I used to work for a living we just torched a hole in the end. Not the best thing to do, but I don't think you will have much luck drilling something like that. Maybe a better option is to make something that will slip on the end of the fork, with the ball attachment, and put a chain from there to the mast to hold it on. You could put it on and take it off fairly quick, and you would not have to destroy one of your forks....

 

[murphy1244]

Where I used to work for a living we just torched a hole in the end. Not the best thing to do, but I don't think you will have much luck drilling something like that. Maybe a better option is to make something that will slip on the end of the fork, with the ball attachment, and put a chain from there to the mast to hold it on. You could put it on and take it off fairly quick, and you would not have to destroy one of your forks....

Same here, we moved machines on carts like that.

 

[brokenknee]

Where I used to work for a living we just torched a hole in the end. Not the best thing to do, but I don't think you will have much luck drilling something like that. Maybe a better option is to make something that will slip on the end of the fork, with the ball attachment, and put a chain from there to the mast to hold it on. You could put it on and take it off fairly quick, and you would not have to destroy one of your forks....

Something like this?

 

[jmc]

i've got conventional forks and they drilled ok in a Bridgeport mill. A lot of drill presses run too fast for a 3/4 inch drill. Find an online calculator for RPM to stay under 100 SFM with a 3/4 drill. Any lubricant is better than dry.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I want to drill a hole at the end of one of my forks to mount a trailer ball from time to time to move my trailers around. I do have a drill press but do not have a 3/4" drill bit. This is a real fork not the soft steel some of the economy models are made of. I was wondering if a cheap flea bay bit would be up to the task. I know to start with a smaller bit and work my way up, but still concerned the bit may not be up to the task.

If I have to invest in a quality bit it may not be worth it. There is a local metal fabricator in town that has reasonable rates. I may check with him before I attempt this anyway.

Has anyone done something similar and how did it work for you? Recommendations? The trailers for the most part would not be loaded when moving them. I have a 14' dump trailer, a 16' equipment trailer and a small 12' utility trailer.

Here is the bit I was considering purchasing.

View attachment 429289

You can buy a whole set from 9/16 to an inch from HF for about twice that. I have found them good enuf. ... Drill your pilot hole about 1/4" then go directly to the 3/4. Small steps can cause "grabbing". ... If you can manage, stop the pilot just before breakthru. Then fill the small hole with cutting coolant and drill at ~ 100 - or your lowest rpm.
larry

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I did the same thing and punched it with a hole saw! Then welded a bar onto the nut so you can tighten it works slick, welded a chunk of square tube for it to sit in and it stays with the forks.

 

[Fawken]

Easy. Done it many times. Plasma cutter.

 

[breadtrk]

Drill it with whatever means you have.

 

[dusty3030]

We just torched them on the forklifts we used when I was younger. Crescent wrench hanging off a hook tack welded to the rops to put the ball on or off when it was needed. Little piece of pipe welded to the side of the rops to keep the pull pin for clevis trailers (most of the trailers were fertilizer spreaders, liquid nurse tanks and seed wagons with clevis hitches). We did the same for skid steer buckets, torched a hole in the center towards the front edge.