Square holes

[bcp]

Without one of these, how do you make them, for carriage bolts?

Square Peg Round Hole

Anyone got something better than a square file?

Bruce

 

[jwmorris]

A knock out punch (threaded die and bolt), punch press with square punch/die, CNC mill or a square broach.

 

[k0ua]

Without one of these, how do you make them, for carriage bolts?

Square Peg Round Hole

Anyone got something better than a square file?

Bruce

While the square hole bit/spindle was very informative and entertaining, I would have to ask why in the world would you use a carriage bolt in metal? carriage bolts are as their name suggest are for bolting together wood, where you drill a round hole and push in the carriage bolt and the square part bites into the edge of the hole and holds the bolt well enough to not need a wrench on the head to tighten the nut. The idea of the carriage bolt is it has a smooth head and does not snag on you or your clothing. Why would you not use a standard hex headed bolt or an allen headed bolt? if you needed something smooth? You can also use a carriage bolt in a round hole by using a small impact to tighten it if you are so inclined. Just curious, again I liked the video.

James K0UA

 

[bbrown4804]

Only way I've seen it done was with steel with a piece of square copper stock. They put the stock through a round hole or a worn square hole and then weld/fill in the gaps and built up the area then grind it all flat. Don't know the material your going into or the thickness, but this was on 1/4 inch steel plate with 3/4in. square holes.

 

[laurencen]

I use a iron worker with punches, drill the hole larger but enough to catch a bit of the square head, hit with a hammer it will not turn when tightening and it pulls its self into the hole

 

[LD1]

We use an iron worker at work also.

But simple answer is, there are easy ways and their are cheap ways to do it. But there are NO easy and cheap ways.

K0ua: I hate square headed bolts for steel also, but suprisingly they are used more often than you think. Cutting edges are a quick one that comes to mind. My old mott/alamo flail had them all over the place. Chisel plow shoes have them. As well as numerous places on cars and trucks.

Yes, they do suck when the head spins inside the hole. But sometimes there is just no choice for a MFG than to use one. Like times were it is impossible to get a wrench on the other side.

 

[Short Game]

I remember when cars had bumpers. They had carriage bolts.

I have my gripes about carriage bolts in wood. They may be great for holding when you are putting the new wood on. But they don't usually hold worth a darn when trying to take them out to replace the wood with new.

 

[k0ua]

We use an iron worker at work also.

But simple answer is, there are easy ways and their are cheap ways to do it. But there are NO easy and cheap ways.

K0ua: I hate square headed bolts for steel also, but suprisingly they are used more often than you think. Cutting edges are a quick one that comes to mind. My old mott/alamo flail had them all over the place. Chisel plow shoes have them. As well as numerous places on cars and trucks.

Yes, they do suck when the head spins inside the hole. But sometimes there is just no choice for a MFG than to use one. Like times were it is impossible to get a wrench on the other side.

Yeah you are right I forgot about the cutting edges, and plow parts, truck beds..etc..

James K0UA

 

[63DH8]

I took a bit for my air hammer and ground it a tapered square until I got to the size I needed. From there, I shouldered the bit at the size I needed. I got the work I wanted worked on drilled to the diameter that I wanted, then heated it bright red, almost yellow, then hit it with my air hammer with the bit. You may want to grind the bit slightly larger than the square on the bolt. The metal will shrink a little, so the hole may end up slightly smaller than what you want unless your bit is larger than the squared section of the bolt.

I almost forgot... Make sure you support the work from behind. You'll deform the work if you don't.

 

[Short Game]

I took a bit for my air hammer and ground it a tapered square until I got to the size I needed. From there, I shouldered the bit at the size I needed. I got the work I wanted worked on drilled to the diameter that I wanted, then heated it bright red, almost yellow, then hit it with my air hammer with the bit. You may want to grind the bit slightly larger than the square on the bolt. The metal will shrink a little, so the hole may end up slightly smaller than what you want unless your bit is larger than the squared section of the bolt.

Sounds good. :thumbsup:

I have a zillion old carriage bolts that I'd liked to have used in lots of applications.

 

[Taylortractornut]

My worst experience with carriage hhead bolts was in 97 my older brother bought an old MF 300 Combine for the tires. I got the remainder and started taking it down for other projects. Most of that things sheet metal was hel on with carriage head bolts 3/16ths to 1/4. Turning the nuts on the rusty bolts would let the square heads round out square holes in the sheet metal. I was saving the grain tank for a feed cart project I was working on at the time.

 

[63DH8]

I almost forgot... Make sure you support the work from behind. You'll deform the work if you don't.

 

[Soundguy]

drill and file, or drill and square profile punch depending on hole size..

soundguy

 

[tcreeley]

Of course there is the old way of using a forge to heat the iron then punching a square hole with a hammer and punch. The hole can be drifted to ant size you want. I suppose a shortcut would be to heat the steel with a torch and then punch a round hole square.
Check out blacksmithing + square holes. You could even make a square bolt to go with the square hole!

 

[Renze]

Anyone got something better than a square file?

I remember the teachers face when someone back at school, asked the metalworking teacher for a square drill...
The teacher really didnt know if this student really was that dumb, or his leg was being pulled...

 

[flusher]

Without one of these, how do you make them, for carriage bolts?

Square Peg Round Hole

Anyone got something better than a square file?

Bruce

Non-circular holes?
In thin sheet metal, use a chassis punch (like the ones used by electricians).
For thicker metal, one of the most used methods is called "broaching". Google that term to learn more than you want to know about this technique.

 

[DanD78]

Square broaches work quick. McMaster-Carr sells many sizes.

Dan

 

[Mace Canute]

I remember the teachers face when someone back at school, asked the metalworking teacher for a square drill...
The teacher really didnt know if this student really was that dumb, or his leg was being pulled...

The teacher should have been embarrassed for not knowing about Watts drills. It's not like it's anything new...the original patent was applied for back in November 1916 and the patent, #1241176, was granted September 25, 1917 to Harry J. Watts of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. (Speaking of Pennsylvania...here's a little Frankie Yankovic music Enjoy! )

Here's another video showing making a square hole in a short piece of round stock.

square hole drilling on a lathe with the Vika attachment. - YouTube

Another video showing them drilling a hexagonal hole.

hexagon hole drilling - YouTube

 

[Renze]

The teacher should have been embarrassed for not knowing about Watts drills.

Well i never heard about them either... Not a common tool in the shops i've been...