How to hold work-pieces at strange angles for drilling. A special Vice ???

[tedmagnum]

Hey all.

As a motorcycle restorer I often have to drill out broken studs, bolts etc.

I have a particularly tricky job on. I have to drill out some severely corroded exhaust studs from a motorcycle head.

The problem is, the studs are all at a 20 degree angle so I can't get a straight run on my pillar drill. I don't want to use a hand drill in this case as the margin for error is MINUTE..

So, are there any tricks, tips, tools or clamps that I can use to hold a fairly large work-piece and rotate and angle it etc ??

I've seen tilting vices but they're all very small. Seems they have a 100mm jaw. I need something with wide jaws. 200mm really

Thanks in advance.

Ted

 

[BrokenBiker]

adjustable angle vice could be used, or you could use an angle finder set to the right angle then use that to set whatever flat surface you have taken your measurements from and clamp it all up so the studs are vertical...sounds more like a job for a milling machine rather than a pillar drill

 

[500e]

Would tend to use mill clamp it down & tip head

 

[Gareth J]

Considered using a welder? People have their favourite techniques but I recon it's generally easier and less likely to damage threads than drilling/retapping.

 

[tedmagnum]

The studs are all snapped off. Nothing to weld a nut onto.

Yes, a tilting mill vice is what I need but they seem to only go up to 100mm / 4"

That won't get a cylinder head in.

I've thought about bolting the head onto some plate then welding on something that will fit into the vice but it's a long process. I want some wide jaws that I can do these jobs on regularly without having to make a jig.

 

[BrokenBiker]

if i were doing a job like that regularly i would much prefer a jig to a vice that will probably need to be trammed every single time to ensure accuracy...if you have a nice solid jig then just bolt it down and get drilling

 

[Screwdriver]

I just finished restoring this.

Might be just the thing you're looking for. Unusually for a universal vice, this one goes to 90 degrees.

The hardened/ground jaws are "only" six inches but the vice itself is fecking huge!

S.

 

[MattH]

Clamp it down to a milling angle plate?

 

[tedmagnum]

I just finished restoring this.

Might be just the thing you're looking for. Unusually for a universal vice, this one goes to 90 degrees.



The hardened/ground jaws are "only" six inches but the vice itself is fecking huge!

S.

CRIKEY !! That things huge hahah. Out of interest, how much are you selling it for ?? If you are that is.

Clamp it down to a milling angle plate?

View attachment 77935

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm that could work !!

 

[Gareth J]

The studs are all snapped off. Nothing to weld a nut onto.

So long as the snapped stud surface is no more than a couple millimetres below the surface of the head you can just weld onto the sheared face. Build it up until you've enough to grab with a pair of grips and work it out back and forth with lots of light oil.

 

[tedmagnum]

I think this will do it... I'm not sure how I'll get the head to clamp down on it yet but that should be easy enough...

Thanks all.

 

[tedmagnum]

Final point... What are the slots in the plate for ???

I know nothing about milling as you can see.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Apologies if I'm asking the blindingly obvious , but does your drill table tilt?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Final point... What are the slots in the plate for ???

I know nothing about milling as you can see.

They're for securing the work-piece, using t-slot nuts.

 

[tedmagnum]

So long as the snapped stud surface is no more than a couple millimetres below the surface of the head you can just weld onto the sheared face. Build it up until you've enough to grab with a pair of grips and work it out back and forth with lots of light oil.

Tried it. The studs are so corroded they won't budge. The nuts just keep snapping off. I've tried heating the head etc. I've tried everything.

 

[tedmagnum]

Apologies if I'm asking the blindingly obvious , but does your drill table tilt?

haha. no

 

[tedmagnum]

They're for securing the work-piece, using t-slot nuts.

Are they a standardised size ??? I'll need to buy some if i buy that angle plate.

 

[MattH]

You'll want something like this, but you will need to match the size to the slots:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52-pc-CLA...hash=item56762465b3:m:mIU_SufhnuEAbeHnFH-XwHQ

 

[tedmagnum]

Thanks

I'll order that angle clamp and see what sizes I need.

 

[Nick67GT]

If as you say the margin for error is minute, try looking for a shop which has a spark erosion machine.

It won't be particularly cheap, but if you are looking to manage the risk effectively and precisely, this is the way to go.

Also depends on how rare / replaceable the component is.........