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3rd May 2022, 9:18 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,990
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Drilling holes in thin metal
How to drill accurate 11mm holes in 0.8mm metal with a standard HSS drill safely. How many others were aware of this trick? I was not!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAGiuXOKKi8 John.
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3rd May 2022, 10:27 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
New one on me, if someone said it was a challenge to try this in one go I would have tried to sandwich the sheet between two bits of wood clamped down in more than one place but you would have to be careful to align it.
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3rd May 2022, 10:54 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Some model engineers here may have read the original article in the magazine. I wish I knew this 50 years since.
John.
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3rd May 2022, 11:08 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Warsaw, Poland and Cambridge, UK
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
That's amazing. I've always relied on clamping the sheet firmly and backing it with a piece of scrap wood, with mixed results, but I'll certainly be trying this trick in the future. Thank you for posting it.
Chris
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3rd May 2022, 11:13 pm | #5 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
I was taught the trick 45 years ago by an old sheet metal worker that made chassis for me.
I never thought about it before. Joe |
4th May 2022, 12:14 am | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,349
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
What a great tip, thanks for posting it.
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4th May 2022, 9:00 am | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,887
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Yes a great tip, thanks for passing this on.
John |
4th May 2022, 9:10 am | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,088
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
I've never come across this, but I'll definitely give it a go! Drilling 1/2" holes in sheet aluminium for a toggle switch will hopefully be much easier!
Thank you! |
4th May 2022, 9:28 am | #9 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Quote:
John.
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4th May 2022, 10:03 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
My Dad was a time served apprentice at Vickers Armstrong, and was a superb precision engineer. And I am 100% certain that he did not know that particular trick.
Looking forward to giving it a bash Craig
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4th May 2022, 10:36 am | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
OLdJohn
Many thanks for posting that! It does actually work too. How many times in the past I've sandwiched thin stock to drill it... Alan
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4th May 2022, 11:31 am | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
We'll see how critical the provision of a pillar drill is...with a steady hand i think it would work without.
Dave |
4th May 2022, 11:51 am | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Wow, that's incredible! The number of times I've avoided thin sheet because of this exact issue! I've got a nice tin box that is aching for a project to be built into it, but every time I pick it up I think about the horror of making neat holes in it.
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4th May 2022, 12:06 pm | #14 |
Octode
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Truly a top tip - thanks for posting.
Steve.
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4th May 2022, 1:00 pm | #15 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Very useful, must give it a try. Many a time I’ve seen a biscuit tin or similar that would make a fine chassis but have always discarded it if it needed some holes! If this trick works with thin tin plate then it is a real winner.
Peter |
4th May 2022, 1:20 pm | #16 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 475
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
I think I would still use something to hold the workpiece (not my fingers) or clamp it.
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4th May 2022, 1:39 pm | #17 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
Quote:
I would agree with that. John.
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4th May 2022, 2:25 pm | #18 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 510
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
A good tip, never the less i suggest the thin plate should securely clamped down before thing gets wizzing round and out of control. I have Fobco bench drilling machine, and have fitted a foot operated mains switch, now both hands free to control things. In Model Engineer or its stable mate MEW, there was a very useful article on adapting a MOLE type wrench with a bit of welding for clamping sheet steel. Ted
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4th May 2022, 5:07 pm | #19 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
I only wish that I had been shown this 45 years ago when I started my 5 year technicians apprenticeship, too late now that I am retired, damn!
Neil
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4th May 2022, 9:39 pm | #20 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
In EWTP (metalwork) at school the technique we were taught was a modified drill bit with a much shallower angle. Have never tried it, though.
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