drilling round bar

[Mexico Jon]

Hi Everyone

I am new to fabricating so please do shoot me down about the question that i am going to ask.

i wanted to drill the end of the round bar so it would be flush to another piece of round bar, i know this is done to hollow bar but wanted to know if it is common for solid bar aswell, also what drill bits would be suitable to do this

Thanks in advance

Jon

 

[outofthefire]

I'm not sure what you mean but if you can do something with hollow bar you can do it with solid bar use exactly the same drill bit, use a pilot drill first.

 

[Windy Miller]

How thick is the bar? I'd be tempted just to leave it as it is and just weld in the gaps - a bit like a veed out joint.

Or were you not going to weld it?

 

[aametalmaster]

This is where a metal lathe comes in real nice...Bob

 

[Pete.]

You want to cross-drill a piece of solid bar so it makes a tee-joint onto the side of another piece of round bar? All depends on the diameter - if it's being welded and small diameter say below an inch I'd do it with a grinder, since you'll have to bevel it anyway. If it's larger diameter I'd probably drill it with a starrett cutter or annular cutter in the drill press then grind a bevel on it.

 

[KemppiFrog]

There are jigs to do this for tube joints. Popular in the light aircraft fabrication world. I tried roughing up one using Starratt type cutters, but found they tended to lose teeth as only half was cutting and the teeth objected to the sudden contact with an edge. Probably might work better with solid bar, but needs to be a fairly rigid set up. Otherwise a grinder works wonders. Depends on how many. Dozen, OK. Hundreds needs a good setup.

 

[langy]

Are you talking about one of these ??? Its a tubing notcher, If so they cut tube for Tig welded roll cages brilliantly but i'm not sure about solid bar.

 

[brightspark]

Are you talking about one of these ??? Its a tubing notcher, If so they cut tube for Tig welded roll cages brilliantly but i'm not sure about solid bar.

they will cut solid bar no problem. slow speed and feed and a good cutting compound just back of regular to clear the swarf , with solid they dont snatch like tube can

 

[langy]

they will cut solid bar no problem. slow speed and feed and a good cutting compound. with solid they dont snatch like tube can

Never needed to do bar as i don't use anything that heavy, but good to know that they will do the job

 

[Mexico Jon]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the advice, yes that what i need to make the joints neat for welding

Thanks Again Jon

 

[breezer]

I'm with Windy Miller, if you are joining solid bar then not scalloping the joins may be better as the gap will increase the penetration of the weld.

 

[nickk]

I'm with Windy Miller, if you are joining solid bar then not scalloping the joins may be better as the gap will increase the penetration of the weld.

Not true,as with any welded joint the fit together quality determines the joint strength so always aim to get tight joints with minimal gaps/daylight.

 

[Welderpaul]

Great big gaps either side will allow the joint to pull/distort as it is welded no matter how many tacks you put on there. Tight fitting joints make keeping distortion under control much easier.

 

[DEANO3528]

Some of you might find this useful.

http://www.metalgeek.com/static/cope.pcgi