Rotabroach mini cutters

[Mikey D]

Has any one any experiecnce of these,? they seem pretty much what im looking for (holes in 1.5mm wall stainless tube) .
wouldnt mind hearing anyones experiences before i fork out on some
http://www.engineering-supplies.com/subcat.asp?id=475

cheers mike

 

[Hitch]

They are okay, best used in a pillar drill. The centre pins are perhaps a bit easy to break, but ive only ever used them in hand held drills.

 

[Shox Dr]

I wouldn't bother the cutters have a very coarse pitch, causing the bit to jump. I thought they would be better than holesaws for use in a tube coping jig. I was wrong.

 

[chap]

would those screw together punches be anygood for your aplication?

 

[Shox Dr]

would those screw together punches be anygood for your aplication?

Q-max are ace


But no good for tube

 

[Tigman]

they might be a little too course for the 1.5mm tube ! what size holes you want ?

 

[Mikey D]

cheers for the response guys , the holes are usually 18mm .
The best thing ive found so far are the stella hss holesaws (from nep uk on e bay)
i did try some of the stella tct holesaws but they were rubbish the brazed on tips came off as soon as it broke thru the tube .

Normal holesaws dont last long and you loose teeth easily if your not very carefull .!

im not sure wether to give the mini cutters a bash or not

cheers mike

 

[chap]

Q-max are ace

But no good for tube

i aught to go to bed earlier

How are you holding and drilling the tube?
If you can rigidly hold it in a vice, fixed to a pedistal drill, you should be able to control the cut better and hopefuly it won't move as you break through (this may be what is killing the hole saws).

Forgive me if you already know, but the stainless will harden as you work/heat it. Slow speed, firm cutting feed and plenty of cutting fluid would help.
Would those mini cutters fit a holesaw arbour?.. may be a cheaper way to try them. Also a pilot hole may provide a better location than a sprung pin.

 

[Mikey D]

its all site work so ,using a cordless drill . yea know all about cutting speed use cutting oil etc

 

[Mikey D]

A bit of a late update i know but i went ahead and got a cutter and arbour , pretty impressed so far . only using it handheld in a cordless can see the advantage of being in a vice and using a pillar drill but not reaaly an option with site work .
plenty of cutting oil and steady hand all is good after 20 or so holes so far
minimal filing needed to deburr too , much smoother cut than any hole saw

cheers mike