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drill press tips

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:01 pm
by twizi
hey guys do you have any tips for drilling on the side of a pipe like the muzzle brake on this page http://www.airsoftretreat.com/forums/in ... ic=70460.0
i tireid to but every time i try i would bend the drill bit and it would snap.

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:33 pm
by dewey-1
What type of pipe?
What OD? (outside diameter)
What wall thickness?
What size hole diameter?
What spacing on the slotted ports?

Do you have V-blocks and a drill press?

Re: drill press tips

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:42 pm
by velocity3x
That's a job for a mill.

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 7:20 pm
by Gippeto
Twizi, set up a fence (a board and some clamps) on the drill table.

Then tape a piece of wood (3/4" x the diameter of the tube) to the tube.

Line things up so that the drill bit is centered on the tube, with the wood flat against the drill table (on the side of the tube now). You'll be able to drill holes in a straight line this way.

Use a SHORT drill bit, or a starter drill to (ahem) START the hole. Once there is a divot in the tube, you can switch out to a drill bit and drill the hole...it shouldn't skate off anymore.

Use sharp bits and don't force it.

Fiddly...certainly, but quite possible with patience.

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 8:38 pm
by twizi
dewey-1 wrote:What type of pipe?
What OD? (outside diameter)
What wall thickness?
What size hole diameter?
What spacing on the slotted ports?

Do you have V-blocks and a drill press?
i inch
.25
6mm
abount 10mm

no v block but do have a drill press vice
no mill

thanks gippeto

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:11 pm
by dewey-1
twizi wrote:
dewey-1 wrote: What type of pipe? Iron, Steel, PVC, Copper?
What OD? (outside diameter) 1 inch?
What wall thickness? .25 inch?
What size hole diameter? 6mm?
What spacing on the slotted ports? 10mm?
i inch
.25
6mm
abount 10mm

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:30 pm
by Technician1002
Use a self striking center punch. This makes a small diviot. Drill that with a small bit so a larger bit will follow the pilot hole. I show the proceedure in my 2.5 inch QDV build thread to cut a hole in a propane tank on the curved surface.
Image

Image

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/2-5-inc ... 19456.html

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:36 pm
by dewey-1
I was going to suggest a spring loaded punch, but I still have no clue about his cryptic answers!

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:29 pm
by rp181
spring loaded punches are great. Don't have one? A clamp, a nail, and a hammer works too. make a dent, this way the drill bit doesn't slip.
Clamp the pipe, and drill away.

Or option two,
Bore a block of wood with the pipe OD. Stick the pipe in, and drill through the wood and all.

No matter how you do it, have it in a heavy clamp.

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:36 am
by Technician1002
The proper name of a spring loaded center punch is an Auto Center Punch. You don't need a hammer as it is built inside, so it self strikes.

They are not expensive and are worth every penny.

Nails are made from soft iron wire and lose the point quickly. A glancing hammer blow can move the point. The self striking punch has a tool steel tip and remains sharp longer and always strikes straight on. It is much easier to use.

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:45 pm
by twizi
the pipe is aluminum but its at such an angle i thinking i would need to hammer a punch deep in there but i really would like to now first because i only have 2 inchies of pipe.
thanks for all the advice

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:57 pm
by Dave_424
So they are angular holes? my vote it to try and file a flat so that the bit has a much more even surface to start on.

High RPM's and light feeds.

Also, just grab yourself a centre drill. They are really stubby and don't flex like drill bits do.

Dave

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:12 pm
by dewey-1
twizi wrote:the pipe is aluminum but its at such an angle i thinking i would need to hammer a punch deep in there but i really would like to now first because i only have 2 inchies of pipe.
thanks for all the advice
I can create a paper template that you can tape on for you to use it for marking center punching holes.

I need to know actual OD to do this though.
So far I know it is aluminum pipe, .25 inch wall.
Why are you mixing metric and inch measurements?

Are you in the US?

Do you have a .25" drill bit or an actual 6mm bit?

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:34 pm
by SpudFarm
You can sit down with a file and file off small notches where you are going to drill. Then make a diviot on the flat surface. That's what I do.

The pipe will end up looking like a badly machined HEX nut but you can fix that with some epoxy and sand paper.

Edit, spent some time reading this..

So they are angular holes? my vote it to try and file a flat so that the bit has a much more even surface to start on.
Also, you should calculate the revs of the drill. "High revs" can cause bad results and might cause overheating of the drillbit.

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:49 pm
by twizi
dewey-1 wrote:
twizi wrote:the pipe is aluminum but its at such an angle i thinking i would need to hammer a punch deep in there but i really would like to now first because i only have 2 inchies of pipe.
thanks for all the advice
I can create a paper template that you can tape on for you to use it for marking center punching holes.

I need to know actual OD to do this though.
So far I know it is aluminum pipe, .25 inch wall.
Why are you mixing metric and inch measurements?

Are you in the US?

Do you have a .25" drill bit or an actual 6mm bit?
thanks that wold be great if you could
its 1 inch od
.25 wall thickness
1/2 id
6mm holes its a 6mm drill bit

its gonna have two channels on each side 10mm apart
if you need any more info just ask
thanks a bunch guys