Gazzar Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 I've to cut a circle out of a 15mm plate of aluminium. I was planning on using a hole saw to do this. There's a bewildering choice out there, what should I buy to get a clean cut with a cheapo pillar drill? In eBay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve200TDi Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 I used an Abracs brand as seen here: it gave a clean cut on my old floor standing pillar drill and has the two pin locking mechanism so the hole saw is easy to remove after use. And once you've bought the arbor you just need to buy the hole saw for future sizes. Other brands may use the same locking features, but that's the one I opted for. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 They're good, are they? Shame there's nothing closer to 48mm. 4mm is a lot to remove with a Dremel. Maybe I should get a few stones for the die grinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Gazzar said: They're good, are they? Shame there's nothing closer to 48mm. 4mm is a lot to remove with a Dremel. Maybe I should get a few stones for the die grinder. If you can't get the correct size and intend to use a die grinder why not just drill a series of holes around the circumference and have less material to remove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 Chain drill it, I know. I've found a 48 mm saw. I'll try that first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Or use starrat (spelling maybe wrong) hole saws you can get them in nearly every size. Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve200TDi Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 22 hours ago, Gazzar said: They're good, are they? Shame there's nothing closer to 48mm. 4mm is a lot to remove with a Dremel. Maybe I should get a few stones for the die grinder. I was happy with the quality, I've used them quite a few times now and I still have all the teeth intact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 19 hours ago, miketomcat said: Or use starrat (spelling maybe wrong) hole saws you can get them in nearly every size. Mike As Mike says Starrett. IMO the best there is for the money. Thing with hole saws is that they are NOT precision things, even more so with a sloppy pillar drill. So allow for this to avoid disappointment, depending on how accurate it needs to be. Get the arbour with locking pins NOT the one without, or it will keep you amused for hours trying to remove the saw from the arbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmayco68 Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Bosch cobalt ones are good but there not the best for accuracy , a MAG Drill would be better I have used one in a pillar drill before at a structural steel place I worked at , don't know whether your supposed to , someone else set it up I just finished them off one day when they weren't there . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Oh and use lots of lub. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 drill from 2 sides, regularly remove the swarf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 Some ordered from eBay. Still struggling with finding the time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Run it slow , as slow as you can , iirc paraffin used to be considered a good cutting oil for ally , it reduces the tendency for the ally swarf to stick to the cutting edges . As Ian says a mag. drill bit ( I call them rotabroachs ) which are a trepanning cutter would be more accurate but the hole saw will work fine . cheers Steve b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remington Rolling Block Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 bolt it down firmly and use a fy cutter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 If you have a lathe and a 4 jaw chuck you could set it up that way and bore out providing your piece of aluminium plate fits in said chuck limits regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 I have a lathe and a face plate 4 jaw chuck. I need a motor that works, though. And I'm contemplating going 3 phase, so won't buy a new motor until I know if I can afford 3 phase. The hole saw arrived today, when I've the 109 wiring tart up out of the way I'll get back to this. Hole saw and router will get me there. I think. Not an iPhone max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 If you want to send it to me I can interpolate a hole into that on the mill for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 That's a great offer. If I fail with the DIY, I'll be looking elsewhere. But, I think I'll be okay, take it slow, clamp the heck out of everything. Use lube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Just shout if you change your mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264001894926 Use this type. They are much much better than the pressed steel type. The leave a clean edge and don't wander on entry. These ones are cheap as chips and are still brilliant but not very deep. I would expect a brand name version to be deeper to allow cutting through a 15mm plate 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Get the lathe running, pop it in the 4 jaw! Nice and rigid, plenty of torque and perfect speed for a hole saw when in back-gear, and you can finish with a boring bar. Or just drill as big as you can and bore out. Doesn't take long. I keep a large drill that fits directly into the morse taper of my tailstock that's used almost exclusively for opening a hole large enough to get a decent size boring bar in. I'm no fan of home saws, I avoid if I possibly can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 The lathe needs a new motor, I'll see how the cheapo pillar drill copes first. I need to get in touch with Western power, to price 3ph. There's 3ph actually going over the corner of the workshop, but the land is bad for a pole, on the side of a silt trap for the canal. Another project.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Just use a VFD, unless you really need proper 3 phase. My 2hp bridgeport is running really nicely off an Eaton De1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 On 3/28/2020 at 7:57 PM, miketomcat said: Or use starrat (spelling maybe wrong) hole saws you can get them in nearly every size. Mike Another vote for starret here. Unless you've got enough torque to run something like a rotabroach. Biggest problem with holesaws is most people run them waaaaaaay too fast. Which then causes them to both go blunt and wander around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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