Bolt on hooks

[tradosaurus]

I recently installed two bolt on hooks from Kens bolt on grab hooks

The hook were high quality.

Two things to remember:
1) Drilling 4 holes took nearly 1 1/2 hrs. I'm sure this was due to going through 2 plates of metal on the bucket. My wife and I took turns. I used an electric drill and a Cobalt High-Speed Steel Drill Bit (1/2" x 6"L).
2) Going slow speed on the drill allowed for a better bite on the bit and straighter hole. The last hole I used highest speed and the hole ended up wallowed and not straight.
3) The placement of the hooks made if difficult to get one of the nuts and washers on the bolt. Needed my wifes small hands to reach behind the compartment.

I still need to put two bolt on shackles on the bucket will wait for next week and a new bit.

 

[chim]

Ken makes quality stuff. My BIL bought a few from him and they are very nice. Next time, drill pilot holes about 1/3 the size of your finished hole size. It'll go a lot easier.

 

[WranglerX]

Trying to drill a "large" hole in a single operation is like trying to pull a whale into a dingy, almost impossible...

Center punch where you want hole..
Drill a 1/8 inch pilot hole.
Drill it out larger maybe 5/16 inch hole.
Drill it larger with your 9/16 for needed "clearance".

A large drill bit has a flat across tip and it prevent cutting flutes from removing materials....

Note in graphic and look at your large drill bits to see what problem is.....Also if you have dulled the bit it's alos going to make it miserable....

Its also common machine shop (tool) procedure to start with small pilot hole and step up two or three size in sequence to final size....

Dale

 

[jmc]

That bucket looks like mine and that top plate is the thickest steel on the whole bucket. That said:

Check your old cobalt drill for chipping on the point's cutting edges. Cobalt drills are harder, but more brittle than high speed steel drills so they chip more if the setup isn't rigid, like in hand held drilling.

 

[Lowcountry Rebel]

Many drills and saws have 2 speeds- slow for metal and fast for wood- also use a quality cutting oil, tap magic is awesome, if will cut your time by 3/4 and save your drill bits

 

[atsah]

I have a set of Dewalt step bits driven by my 18V Makita impact that chewed 4 holes through my bucket in about 2 minutes to install Kens hooks..

 

[jaxs]

Check your old cobalt drill for chipping on the point's cutting edges. Cobalt drills are harder, but more brittle than high speed steel drills so they chip more if the setup isn't rigid, like in hand held drilling.

That is a little known pearl of wisdom. Despite best efforts while using hand held drills, bits will easily drill 4 times as many holes when used in a drill press. My first press was a contraption that a hand held drill was clamped into. After buying a liitle press,I altered the contraption so it can be clamped onto large assemblies. It's not near sturdy as a press but it's better than hand held. To extend life of bits regardless how used for steel,dunk tip in lite oil(I use transmission fluid) before it over-heat's.

 

[tradosaurus]

I also tried Titanium High Speed Steel bit and it was worthless.

 

[CPTKILLER]

As a thought after years in manufacturing as a manufacturing engineering manager, a little coolant really helps.

Tap Magic can be ordered from Walmart of all places. It will make the drilling process quicker with better drill bit life.

 

[jmc]

I also tried Titanium High Speed Steel bit and it was worthless.

Probably because it was a fly-by-night manufacturer letting their marketing people conflate a titanium nitride coating with a titanium alloy, which has some marketing sizzle for some. Make sure you buy a reputable brand.