- Thread starter KennyA
- Start date
brightspark
Member
- Messages
- 41,458
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
drill the corners. a fine metal cutting jigsaw blade and a decent file 
- Messages
- 13,498
- Location
- England
I just drill and use a file or two if its one i cant punch for some reason.
The rectangular Qmax punches are expensive compared to the round counterparts.
Are we talking small push in rocker switches? Or large square holes for light switch style switches? In which case, jiggysaw. 1.5 cuts pretty easily with a quality blade, bit of cutting oil and slow speed.
The rectangular Qmax punches are expensive compared to the round counterparts.
Are we talking small push in rocker switches? Or large square holes for light switch style switches? In which case, jiggysaw. 1.5 cuts pretty easily with a quality blade, bit of cutting oil and slow speed.
up to about 25mm square; u can use hand punches,whereby u drill a pilot hole of about 10mm & then use a hand held punch,u could use this in each corner & then angle grind between each hole to join up . i last bought one in the 90's-branded under the name "Q-Max". u can buy round & square up to about 20/25mm,the other benefit being they have limitless throat as u only need a pilot hole.
brightspark
Member
- Messages
- 41,458
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
it apears that no one uses files nowadays which are more acurate than grinding and cutting disks
simple skills lost 
Windy Miller
Semi-Professional Potterer!
- Messages
- 3,698
- Location
- North Kent, UK
it apears that no one uses files nowadays which are more acurate than grinding and cutting disks
Great shame really. I spent MONTHS filing when i was an apprentice. If we didn't get it within +/- 10 thou and a mirror finish it went in the scrap bin!
brightspark
Member
- Messages
- 41,458
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
i dont supose many people know what draw filing is or ever done it
i chain drill chissel and file quite often even though i have the machinery to do it fore me .it gives more satisfaction making things
feathers
Member
- Messages
- 35
i dont supose many people know what draw filing is or ever done it
True, some of the cadets I've sailed with recently couldn't even use a hacksaw correctly let alone file anything. The basic workshop/fitting skills are appalling, seems the colleges and companies think a HND etc is far more important.
I find it far more satisfying doing most things by hand and it looks better to, well in my eyes it does
Windy Miller
Semi-Professional Potterer!
- Messages
- 3,698
- Location
- North Kent, UK
i dont supose many people know what draw filing is or ever done it
I know exactly what you mean! I sometimes wish I had a surface plate and some nice square blocks just to prove to myself that I can still do it!
Sad ain't I?
drivewasher
Member
- Messages
- 372
Ah yes, When I did metalwork at school. VERY long time ago We had to blue mark fluid a piece of steel bar/plate mark out an adjustable spanner two pieces iirc then hack saw, file it and finish with draw filing. Not forgetting to keep file away from oil and to keep it clear with a file card.
When it came to the male thread after getting a belt with a board duster for asking if we use a lathe to round the square bit that would be the thread, was shown how to rocker file. The next day in tech drawing we plotted the path of the rocker file action to show what shape it made.
Every time my wife and her sister are doing thier nails (on the end of their fingers) we have a row cos I tell them that way they do it doesent file a nice round it make them concave or hollow. They usually just paint my nails when \i fall to sleep.
When it came to the male thread after getting a belt with a board duster for asking if we use a lathe to round the square bit that would be the thread, was shown how to rocker file. The next day in tech drawing we plotted the path of the rocker file action to show what shape it made.
Every time my wife and her sister are doing thier nails (on the end of their fingers) we have a row cos I tell them that way they do it doesent file a nice round it make them concave or hollow. They usually just paint my nails when \i fall to sleep.
Ragnarok
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 697
- Location
- Wales
oh and in on the original topic (kinda) check this out haha square drilling
Angusdog
Well-meaning amateur
- Messages
- 726
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
it apears that no one uses files nowadays which are more acurate than grinding and cutting disks
Ha ha! That's me to a tee. Yesterday, I was thinking whether to use the grinder or dremel to cut something, when I thought I could use a hacksaw and file in less time. And with more control. But as you say, the instinct is to reach for a power tool.
Windy Miller
Semi-Professional Potterer!
- Messages
- 3,698
- Location
- North Kent, UK
Ah yes those were the days!
I remember when it was all fields round here...
I remember when it was all fields round here...
mike os
just a little insane.....
- Messages
- 9,652
- Location
- North Wales
It is not just in metalwork either... was chatting to a mate yesterday about how he could not get a mini excavator & dumper into a job & would have to do it all by hand... few years back we would not even have thought about using machinary for it.
ah the gentle skill of making iron filings by hand.... remember it well
ah the gentle skill of making iron filings by hand.... remember it well
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
- Messages
- 7,582
- Location
- Stone Mountain, GA USA
Yes, I reach for power tools at any chance. However, this application is one where I reach first for my manual hand nibbler. Cutting 3/16" x 1/10" (5x3mm) nibbles at a time can be slow for large holes but it does not distort the metal, slip and leave a big gouge or leave a raised edge.
Probably one of the best $20 I have spent.
Probably one of the best $20 I have spent.
