Lessons learned.... Or, drilling into curved bodies.

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  • nerobro
    Registered User
    • Oct 2001
    • 923
    #1

    Lessons learned.... Or, drilling into curved bodies.

    Well... 314259 and I decieded the spyder needed eyes. so. I decided I would just take a drill bit, and pop some holes in the body.

    Well.. It isn't that easy. I'm new to metal work. I've done a lot of grinding, but using actual metal cutting bits isn't something I've done a lot of. So, with my utterly novice knowlege on how to drill a hole offest on the side of a tube, I have at it. I use a black carbon drill bit, and I peck at the side of the body. lifting up to clear chips.. and the drill bit wanders. Wanders all over the place. Eventually I get holes drilled. and they look "ok" but they aren't nearly what I wanted them to be.

    A month or two passes, and after a lot of research, and deciding to do it right, I finally went out and bought the proper tools to do this. I went out and bought a center drill so pop that first dent in the body. It's got like 1/16" of flutes, I can't comprehend how you could make a drill bit stiffer. And I bought a set of machine length drills to make the actuall holes in the body, instead of the jobber length I was using.

    this weekend I intend to do eye holes "right." I'll post pictures of my progress.

    Next adventure, is making eye covers.
    To be an AGD supporter, one cannot be an AGD bigot. -Nero

    Truth is a complex thing. One must govern by simplicity. -M. Mercier, special counsel to his Majesty for domestic matters. The Brotherhood of the Wolf

    "You can't outrun Death forever, but you can make the bastard work for it."

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    • OfficerGoat
      My Liver! My Liver!
      • May 2003
      • 532
      #2
      Best way to do this is to do it on a super ridged setup... preferably a mill.. obviously normal folks like us havent got access to a mill .. but a drill press will do just fine. Run a pilot hole using a center drill (The ones they use for a lathe center) and then drill to the size you want. This should get you a pretty good result.
      Sig image must be under 20k

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        • nerobro
          Registered User
          • Oct 2001
          • 923
          #3
          That's exactly why I bought the center drill. The thing has a 3/8" shaft on it leading up to where the flutes actually are. It's a mighty meaty peice of drill :-) and it's doubble ended so if I ever manage to wear it out....

          so much from mcmaster carr, so little time. I"ll be drilling eye holes in three more bodies this weekend. Lets pray for the best eh?
          To be an AGD supporter, one cannot be an AGD bigot. -Nero

          Truth is a complex thing. One must govern by simplicity. -M. Mercier, special counsel to his Majesty for domestic matters. The Brotherhood of the Wolf

          "You can't outrun Death forever, but you can make the bastard work for it."

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            • OfficerGoat
              My Liver! My Liver!
              • May 2003
              • 532
              #4
              Another thing that will make your life easyer ... a Deburing tool. Those holes will most certianly have burrs on the back side.
              Sig image must be under 20k

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                • nerobro
                  Registered User
                  • Oct 2001
                  • 923
                  #5
                  you can't get a 3mm deburring tool. :-)
                  To be an AGD supporter, one cannot be an AGD bigot. -Nero

                  Truth is a complex thing. One must govern by simplicity. -M. Mercier, special counsel to his Majesty for domestic matters. The Brotherhood of the Wolf

                  "You can't outrun Death forever, but you can make the bastard work for it."

                    Comment

                    • tempest993
                      Registered User
                      • Jul 2002
                      • 4
                      #6
                      When you can, please post pics of this process. I am looking into installing eyes on my BKO and would be interested to see how the drilling is done.

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