Hole Cutting in Sheet Metal

[Wozzaaah]

Plasma cutter with a trammel?

 

[rusty69bus]

still haven't fixed mine yet

 

[Hitch]

good idea but any idea where i could get a semi decent one from, i was thinking an edwards circle cutter

Youd need a nice solid drill press aswell....dont know, try J&L...
Not hard to make, do you have access to a lathe?



The circle cutter, dont see many of them about

 

[Hitch]

Found one

 

[rusty69bus]

i found one on there to just round the corner from me...finished yesterday.
have access to a small lathe and me as the not so accurate operator

 

[rusty69bus]

i had a thought the other day (cue the jokes), as a little bandsaw blade had just broken i thought what about winding it round a piece of tube, tack in place and cut to size.

silly or not

 

[The Sharpening Man]

I'd use a hole saw everytime. But make sure you have a bi-metal one - some are only hss and only good for wood. Try Bandsaw Service Limited in Windsor U.K. as they stock hole saws made by Starrett who are the people who manufacture bandsaw blades. Really good quality and Bandsaw Service are very helpful.

 

[andypocock]

I can vote for the screwfix own brand holesaws. Excellent quality and price.
I tried the bosch ones, with the quick release arbor a while ago. I wasnt at all impressed, there far to much wobble in them to be of use.

Just the cheap ones like this?

If they will get through a calor 4mm MS I'll be a very happy man.

 

[fingers99]

To get back to the original question. I'd use a holesaw for the hole, but don't demon tweaks list the fixing washers in their catalogue?

 

[madkayaker]

I use the screw fix hole cutter lots. I like the idea of using a bar instead of the drill bit to stop it moving as much. Plus i often end up blunting the drill bit on wall etc and could have the bar protruding the min possible to reduce the chance of drilling cables when I'm entering into live 3ph panels.
Even just found some 6mm bar in the form of a "IN" tray