Starrett hole saws.......

[timgunn1962]

A useful trick if you want to cut out a disk of material without a centre hole, is to cut a hole in a piece of scrap with the holesaw, clamp it to the material where you want to cut, take out the pilot drill and use the hole in the scrap as an external guide to cut the hole. It also works if you can' afford to risk scratching whatever you are putting the hole in. It probably isn't easy to do for large cylindrical vessels though.

 

[zeppelin builder]

Thanks both, I'd never heard of that one. It's a poor day you don't learn at least one new thing!

and cut into a sponge and leave it in the cutter and soak it with a suitable cutting flluid
and low speed steady pressure if metal

 

[Agroshield]

A useful trick if you want to cut out a disk of material without a centre hole, is to cut a hole in a piece of scrap with the holesaw, clamp it to the material where you want to cut...

That's good. I guess it would also allow you to cut overlapping holes.

 

[Maker]

As we're just doing holesaw tips now...

On thick material, once the saw has touched the surface and marked a circle, I like to change back to a drill bit and put a couple of holes just inside the circle that intersect the kerf of the saw, then carry on holesawing as normal, it gives somewhere for the swarf/chips to go.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Parcel arrived today from @The_Yellow_Ardvark, for which I'm most grateful.

The contents [more than expected ] will allow the job to proceed.

Also, thanks all for the various tips.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Parcel arrived today from @The_Yellow_Ardvark, for which I'm most grateful.

The contents [more than expected ] will allow the job to proceed.

Also, thanks all for the various tips.

You know your rules................................

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You know your rules................................

OK, but it'll have to be tomorrow now.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

As ^^ promised

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Things are not going well with the new Starrett hole saw, which has 4 holes for arbor pins as opposed to the 2 on those the 'Vark sent? Fitted the arbor and started cutting but there was a lot of vibration, despite cutting oil [and oil] being used. The 'shake' was enough to start moving the Meddings on the work surface.

Irrespective of the speed used it would stall the drill, pressure seemed to make little difference...... I'll go out after lunch to do some thinking, but I thought I'd be finished by now and have other things to attend to, so might not get back to it today.

I could end up having to chain drill the sucker, although that shouldn't be necessary with a new hole saw.

Metal is just mild steel U channel and I don't recall having any problem first time around.

Later, folks......

 

[atomant48]

I think it was 3mm rhs I was going through with mine (only 32 from memory though). It was slow going and the drill press was a bit quick on its slowest setting but did get there in the end - 8 or 12 holes I think.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Just to update on 'the hole'.

I got fed up with the job which seemed to be taking forever, then I remembered I had the solution right there....
>
>
>
PLASMA!!

Maybe pushed it a bit much in the 5mm because it blew the fuse once [Mr Impatient, me ] but a bit of dressing with the power file [don't you just love power tools ] and.....



and a step nearer to being in operation again. Still got bits of welding to do but that'll have to wait for better weather.



Happy days!!

 

[Blobber]

Im pretty sure all the larger arbors only have 2 pins and the hole saw does tend to move about a bit, if im doing "accurate" stuff I dont lock it with the pins just let the hole saw wind up tight on its own