Cutting Large Holes in thick steel

[mklotz]

Frank Ford, a luthier working in Palo Alto, has documented many ingenious ideas and tricks that are useful well beyond the area of musical instrument repair...

FRETS.COM Machining

[Jon]

Congratulations bobneumann - your Steel Plate Hole Cutting Method is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

A clear winner this week, and this easy money saver is reminiscent of the classic "one weird trick" internet ads:



Some more good builds from this week:

Boring Bar Holder by Frank S
Tap Wrench by diyfixman
ER40 Collet Chuck by ttmrj
Bell by katy
USB Cable Corral by rgsparber
Wheelbarrow by Kwandotechnic
Table Saw Fence Modification by tiger carpenter
Lathe Cross Slide Ways by Claudio HG
Clamp by orioncons36
Disc Sander by h7eh7e
Bar Clamps by Dr.Al
Planing and Edge Jointing Jig by e_m_maker


bobneumann - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:



And, you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon (US-only), PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and award choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

Nice work!

[ranald]

this is amazing to me. I have used this method on pinus sp. (sappier than Ausie hardwood) for many decades but was totally unaware of it being useful on steel. I really like this!
cheers

[Wildwilly]

good vid,, i worked in the machine shop at a plant that made tilted gravel shaker units,we made the sides from 3/8-3/4 plate,, we clamped them together and tack welded them..then used starett hole saws ,, we never drilled a chip hole in the side,,most chips came out in long strings, we just pulled out the hole saw,an blew out any remaing chips and kept on sawing,,ran the radial arm drill press lowest it would go 60 RPM.. i think,,good vid but it ran over 10 min and u did not mention your RPM u ran at, so heres your Sam Kinison award,,,OOOOOH,OH,OOH,OOH,OOOOOH,OOH,OOH ,OOOOOH !!!!!

I’m with you....longwinded & not enough REAL info.

[jzanter]

At you madhatter and agree with you rgsparber. Might be an old trick but there are plenty of old and new dogs out there learning old tricks every day! This concept is excellent and "one weird trick" meme, while it almost made me gag a little, was a refreshing use of it! not weird though, concept-extending, not weird.