Expanding MIG Roller Bore

[eSCHEn]

I needed a new feed roller for my SIP but as SIP themselves seem to have no stock and are as much use as a toffee teapot I thought I'd try someone more reliable.

I spotted a roller for a Clarke machine on @weldequip's site and the dimensions matched so I ordered one. Just tried to fit it on tonight and the bore on the hole in the new one is too small so I need to widen it. I've put the vernier on it and currently it's 9mm but needs to be 10mm. My question is how should I approach it?

I've no access to a lathe or any machinery more complicated than a cordless drill. I do have an extremely cheap and crap SIP pillar drill (a whole 280W of muscle, wow!) My normal way to do this would be to just send a 10mm HSS bit through it but I'd thought of using a hand reamer but that's not a tool I'm familiar with. Is a reamer suitable for this or am I trying to take too much off in one go?

 

[Rig Pig]

That would be quite a lot of material to remove with a hand reamer, I would clamp it down on the pillar drill on a nice flat offcut of MDF, center it up with a 9mm drill poked through the hole, clamp everything up tight and check alignment again then go in with the 10mm bit keeping the feed slow so it doesn't snatch.

 

[outofthefire]

x2 for drilling it.

 

[eSCHEn]

Thanks @Rig Pig thanks what I was thinking but wasn't sure. Reamers are not something I use so wanted to check before getting one. What you describe is what I was going to do originally. Believe me with such a crap pillar drill it will be nothing but slow

 

[optima21]

I think the rollers are hardened in which case drilling isnt so easy.

 

[eSCHEn]

I think the rollers are hardened in which case drilling isnt so easy.

I guess I'll find out in a couple of day's time when the 10mm bits get delivered

 

[CRB]

?If they are hardened, surely grinding is the only option?

 

[outofthefire]

Its a Clarke spare it's not going to be too special, it only needs to be harder than the wire. Give it a tickle with a file if you want to find out before your drill bits arrive.

 

[eSCHEn]

Got it right here in front of me and some needle files nearby, what should I be looking for / absence of?

 

[Rig Pig]

The file will just skate over hardened steel.

 

[eSCHEn]

Well it's not taking the material off like normal but it is taking some off. Guess it's partially hardened if there is such a thing?

 

[Rig Pig]

It should drill then if the file can cut it.

 

[eSCHEn]

It should drill then if the file can cut it.

Excellent! If not you'll hear the swearing at it down where you are

 

[mike 109444]

This seller does them (look down the page as it is mentioned there)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIP-10410...784?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d4261e70

 

[eSCHEn]

This seller does them (look down the page as it is mentioned there)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIP-10410...784?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d4261e70

Yeah that's the same wheel as this one www.welduk.com/product/sip-10400-drive-wheel-0-6mm-0-8mm, unfortunately it's "the drive wheel on most of the SIP mig welders" - just not mine *sigh* Mine has a circular hole in its centre rather than the square one like that.

I'd really like to get this machine welding but by god it's frustrating, mainly down to SIP being poop to get spares from. Getting to the stage where I might just flog this on fleabay and put the cash towards something better. Like a pack of hubba bubba and harsh language.

 

[mike 109444]

Why are you replacing your original roller ? If it's cos its running out then check the motor shaft maybe.
Think you are going to struggle to get a good central and true hole through the roller you have from MM.

 

[eSCHEn]

I'm replacing the original as it looks really tired and is not driving no matter how much tension is put on it. It's quite an old machine by looks of it, this seemed a relatively cheap way to get started on fixing that.

 

[mike 109444]

Take it you have done the "brace mod" assuming it's that type of feed roller unit

 

[eSCHEn]

No not done it as it's not that kind of unit. It's much sturdier in construction; like a pre-cost saving unit. Here's a picture of it before I converted to a euro torch:

 

[daleyd]

+1 on the pillar drill, even a cheapy should do that as long as you take it steady.