Drilling (or burning) large holes???

[Chilly807]

I have bought crap bits at Canadian tire to forgoe the cost of a good bit I will use for one or two holes.

I've actually had pretty good luck with their titanium coated bit sets, I bought a set a few years back more to get the index box than anything else. The durability of the original bits surprised me, I was expecting real junk for the price.

Sean

 

[Spudland_Dave]

All arguing aside :confused2: .....

Torches are one of those tools which will never go away because they've been around for so long, yet they're not the best tool to have around. By that I mean they do most anything, BUT they do nothing really well. Have you been to a fab shop today that uses torches all day long to cut holes? I know I frequent a few and the torches sit in the corner covered in dust...they'll never get rid of them because they ARE handy to have and do get used. Simple example...You cant "Drill" a 1" hole clean enough for a pin with a Torch. Will it do it, sure, will it be precise & elegant..nope. Seriously to me, the best use for a torch is to blow off rusty old nuts & bolts.

Holes = RotoBroaches or Holesaws depending on budget & size
Cutting = Plasma, Bandsaws, Cut Off Wheels
Bending = Press Brake

Factorting in the price of Acetylene & O2, torches arent cheap to run anymore.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

All arguing aside :confused2: .....

Torches are one of those tools which will never go away because they've been around for so long, yet they're not the best tool to have around. By that I mean they do most anything, BUT they do nothing really well. Have you been to a fab shop today that uses torches all day long to cut holes? I know I frequent a few and the torches sit in the corner covered in dust...they'll never get rid of them because they ARE handy to have and do get used. Simple example...You cant "Drill" a 1" hole clean enough for a pin with a Torch. Will it do it, sure, will it be precise & elegant..nope. Seriously to me, the best use for a torch is to blow off rusty old nuts & bolts.

Holes = RotoBroaches or Holesaws depending on budget & size
Cutting = Plasma, Bandsaws, Cut Off Wheels
Bending = Press Brake

Factorting in the price of Acetylene & O2, torches arent cheap to run anymore.

But, is there a more versatile tool that can do as many things well enough to get the job done?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

But, is there a more versatile tool that can do as many things well enough to get the job done?

Seriously Speaking...Probably not...and thats why they're SOOO popular.

Eventually I'll pull mine out and get em going...My dad gave me a torch set (Nice Victor setup, everything minus tanks & cart). I currently have no room fot them, but eventually I'll get a set. Probably swing em over to Oxy-Propane.

 

[J_J]

If he could only get some blood from the Alien, he could blaze through his projects.

But where to store that stuff. :laughing:

I am curious why some of you are suggesting that he start off with caveman fabrication. Surely he can purchase a few good tools to start fabricating, even if it has to be on credit. Have you all paid cash for those large purchases? Credit is the American way.

 

[Shield Arc]

Have you all paid cash for those large purchases?

Yup, I put a stop to people making money off me years ago.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Have you all paid cash for those large purchases?

I've paid cash for all of my fabrication stuff. For me it's a hobby, and I can't justify paying interest on stuff I don't need. I started with the cheapest of the cheap stuff from the traveling tool truck and gradually worked my way up into higher quality and more advanced stuff. It was the only way. Not only did I not have the money when I started out, but I likely didn't even have the credit if I'd wanted to finance something.

I've gone a step further in that the only money I spend on tractors, shop tools etc. is money I've gotten out of the hobby. I fix and sell riding mowers, and I buy at auctions and sell on E-bay to finance the hobby. None of my wage from my full time job goes into my shop or my tractors.

 

[Grayson Klassen]

If I need a tool I will only use very infrequently I will probably buy cheap, but stuff I use constantly I buy good tools.

 

[dcyrilc]

I personally like hole saws, but I've never drilled a hole as big as 2" in steel as thick as 1/2". That sounds like a lot to ask of an average drill press. I've had good luck with hole saws, but after about 3/8" thick it seems like the drill press is really working to get the saw through.

I'm jumpin in a couple of days late on this post and know the discussion may have changed, but here goes.

I like holes saws. I built traffic signals for a living for 26 years. Most traffic signal poles are 3/8" to 1/2" rolled plate steel. The wire termination cabinets on each pole require (2) 2-1/2" holes for all-thread between the pole and cabinet (needs (2) 1/2" tapped bolt holes also). Another 2-1/2" hole if there's a pole mounted head and depending on the mounting style, possibly another for mounting the pedestrian signals. Most intersections have 4 poles, some only have three. I built somewhere around 1,000 intersections in my carear. I'm going to make a wild guess that I've probably drilled somewhere around 10,000 2-1/2" holes in signal poles using a 1/2" Milwakee hand drill during that 26 years. Well, several drills actually. I think I've worn out my share.:laughing:

Anyway, with patience and practice, hole saws maks a pretty nice hole. I will admit that it would have been nice to have been able to drill flat steel with a drillpress rather than on a ladder or in a bucket truck with a hand drill on curved steel. The biggest trick to drilling with a hole saw is to keep the drill steady with constant pressure and not wiggling around while drilling. If drilling with a hand drill, brace both yourself and the drill in a manor to try to keep it as straight and steady as possible. Even a small amount of movement can cause the bit to grab. If you get tired, stop the drill before moving. Then take a break before starting again.

 

[dcyrilc]

Just a tip if you are using a hole saw and a hand drill. Drill a 1/4" hole in the center of where you want the hole first. Then replace the centering bit on the hole saw arbor with a solid 1/4" rod.

+1 on drilling the pilot hole first before using the hole saw.:thumbsup:

Also, don't try to put too much pressure on the saw. This just adds to heat and the tendancy to grab. Let the saw do the work.