| Author | Message | ||
     michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 646 Registered: 03-2002 |
hey guys... i will soon begin work on my roof rack and i wanted to see if anyone had some tips regarding making fishmouth cuts on the tubing. i have been looking around and doing some searches on google, but all i get are articles on fishing. :I i have an 8" drill press and i have found a jig on northerntool's webpage, but i am at a loss as to bits and bit speed and such. i have a bi-metal hole bit i tried, but i think my technique must be way off as when i tried drillng some scrap tubing to practice on, i mostly created noise and horror. since i have quite a few tubes to fishmouth, my current success will have me completing the rack sometime in the late 21st century. thanks for any help you guys may offer. mike | ||
| Steve Sherman (Ssherman) Member Username: Ssherman Post Number: 123 Registered: 11-2002 |
Mike, I've used these in the past to fabricate roll cages....very cheap and easy to use. Steve http://www.vansantent.com/tube_notcher.htm | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 647 Registered: 03-2002 |
great steve! thanks for the link. a quick question about your experiences, are you using it in a press or clamping it and using a drill? also, do you use high bit speeds, or low or medium speeds? thanks in advance...! mike | ||
| Steve Sherman (Ssherman) Member Username: Ssherman Post Number: 124 Registered: 11-2002 |
Mike, We've used it both ways, but prefer to use it in the drill press. As far as bits go, the one's from Home Depot work just fine and we typically use medium speeds with some cutting oil. They sell some nice bits on that site as well. Good luck. Steve | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1359 Registered: 02-2003 |
mike, i feel you pain. i notched every pipe on my rack and tried the hole saw on drill press method like you said. eventually we fabbed up a Jig to hold it asnd keep from vibrating and clattering. i found that going to fast was the devil. slow going about 5 minutes a notch was killing me. we then decided to but a Carbide Bur at 1" dia. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=381-9064&PMPXNO=949869&PARTPG=INLMK32 i just cut the pipe straight and went ape-shit with the bur grinding in the radius. i would then take it to the bench grinder and dress up the groove i had made. i did this while some one else welded. often times he could weld faster than i could notch. i really like the idea of that notcher. if it saves time it could be worth it. especially if you have to make a few racks. http://www.discoweb.org/ics2/DSC00029.JPG | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 648 Registered: 03-2002 |
thanks steve and rob...good info! i think i will give the notcher a run...and i think i will buy the bur as well...i know myself too well that after the hundred dozenth cut i will be completely insane. it looks like i will be able to slip out for the christmas holidays, so i think i will order the gear and begin in january... that rack looks really nice rob...looks like you guys put some solid effort into the project. mike |
