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| Author |
Message |
orinoco
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Bolting metal to wood?
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Jan 17 04:57 UTC 1998 |
I'm currently at work trying to put together some sort of vaguely-guitar-oid
beast using a metal bowl as a resonator. The basic idea works passably well,
but I've come up with a design that would work much better if - and this is
something of a big 'if' - it were possible to bolt the metal bowl to one of
the wood pieces that the rest of the critter is made out of.
Is this possible? Is it feasible? What tools would be necessary? Is there
a cheaper/easier/more efficient/less masochistic way of doing the same thing?
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| 14 responses total. |
scott
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response 1 of 14:
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Jan 17 13:55 UTC 1998 |
A drill and a wrench, I guess. You'd just need to drill a hole, then fill
the hole with a bolt.
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rcurl
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response 2 of 14:
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Jan 17 18:20 UTC 1998 |
A nut on the bolt might help. I know a nut would be involved here, somewhere
8^}.
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scott
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response 3 of 14:
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Jan 17 19:04 UTC 1998 |
Just picture it this way: A bolt is used to squeeze things together, along
the axis of the hole it is inserted in. So find where you want things
squeezed, then decide if a hole right there would goof up anything else. If
not, drill a hole, then put in a bolt and nut.
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orinoco
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response 4 of 14:
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Jan 17 20:49 UTC 1998 |
Well, right, but can you use a mere mortal drill bit to drill through metal?
That was really what I was asking, being as I was under the impression you'd
need some special tool.
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other
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response 5 of 14:
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Jan 17 21:15 UTC 1998 |
if you are dealing with a stainless bowl, which is likely if it is of recent
manufacture, then you may need a harder drill bit. in any case. it is
important to keep the drill speed fairly slow, and lubricate the tip and/or
the area being drilled with some heavy oil. if the metal is thin, you might
get away with a regular bit, so long as you follow the other directions above.
the reason is that if you go too fast, or allow too much friction heat to
build up, you will destroy the temper of the drill bit, and it will cease to
be hard enough to cut through the metal of the bowl.
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scott
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response 6 of 14:
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Jan 18 03:49 UTC 1998 |
Yeah, if you aren't drilling thru anything really thick, a normal bit will
be OK. After a few holes, you might need to replace a cheaper bit.
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orinoco
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response 7 of 14:
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Jan 18 04:16 UTC 1998 |
Okay, thanks.
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rcurl
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response 8 of 14:
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Jan 18 05:54 UTC 1998 |
Drilling thin metal - especially a hard metal like stainless - is rather
difficult as when the metal is first penetrated, the drill edges catch on
the metal edge, and (a) spins the work piece out of your hand, (b) twists
the drill out of your hand, (c) breaks the bit, (d) all of the above. You
need to have the work clamped and use a drill press. It may help to clamp
the metal between two pieces of wood, and drill through that.
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scott
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response 9 of 14:
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Jan 18 14:22 UTC 1998 |
Or just pound a framing nail through it.
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orinoco
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response 10 of 14:
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Jan 19 04:05 UTC 1998 |
Well, as it turns out, I found a way around drilling and bolting and suchlike,
but thanks anyway.
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n8nxf
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response 11 of 14:
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Jan 19 16:30 UTC 1998 |
When I buy drill bits I always make sure that they are made of High Speed
Steel. Don't bother with High Carbon Steel, that will dull fast.
High speed drills will drill through any stainless bowl you are likely
to encounter without problem. As mentioned above, when drilling any
metal, a little oil will go a long way in giving you a clean hole and
getting lots of life out of the drill bit. Forget about drilling hardened
metal. You'll need a carbide, or better, for that. You can test the
metal with a file. If a file scratches the metal, you can tool it with
a high speed bit. It also helps to center-punch the metal you want to
drill to keep the bit from wandering as you start the hole. A nail will
suffice for a center-punch in a pinch. All you need is a little dimple
to keep the bit from skating all over. (Hey, I worked as an instrument
maker for several years ;-)
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orinoco
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response 12 of 14:
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Jan 20 04:35 UTC 1998 |
Really? Hmm...I may pester you about that later :)
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n8nxf
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response 13 of 14:
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Jan 21 12:06 UTC 1998 |
...Instrument maker as in optical instruments and other precise, small
or meticulous mechanical devices. Not as in musical instruments...
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orinoco
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response 14 of 14:
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Jan 22 04:33 UTC 1998 |
Oh. :P
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