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Dennis
Firing on two.
Joined: March 24th, 2009, 9:18 pm Posts: 248 Location: 15340 Mourjou France
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 Cutting circular holes
This is a pretty sad question, but ....
I want to instal a USB outlet on the dash of the H-van (for Satnav). The outlet needs a surprisingly large circular hole - about 3cm across - and ideally with a couple of flats to stop it turning, but I could manage without them. Can anyone suggest how to cut a neat circular hole in thin steel at that sort of diameter?
It looks like a lot of work with a file. Is there any other tool that might work?
_________________ Dennis usually in the Cantal
1964 HY 72 (Type H, campervan) - LHD 1969 AZU 250 (formerly French Post Office van) - LHD 1982 Red Special - RHD 1983 Burgundy/Black Charleston - RHD 2017 Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 DSG - LHD
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August 15th, 2014, 12:07 pm |
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samfieldhouse
Firing on two.
Joined: February 11th, 2009, 12:32 am Posts: 3324 Location: Chichester, West Sussex
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
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August 15th, 2014, 12:50 pm |
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ayjay
Firing on two.
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 6:48 pm Posts: 709
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
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August 15th, 2014, 3:46 pm |
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Geert
Firing on two.
Joined: July 10th, 2010, 12:35 pm Posts: 1159 Location: Magyarország
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
You'll need this : http://eshop.wurth.nl/Gatenpons-STEMPEL ... qc2jfJAruSI don't know the English name for it, but it is a very usefull tool. I used this stepdrill several times, but I prefere this würth-thing .
_________________ 'T is een kwestie van geduld.........
Ez a türelem kérdése.........
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August 15th, 2014, 3:47 pm |
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ayjay
Firing on two.
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 6:48 pm Posts: 709
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
thats an exellant tool geert i can,t remember the name of it either ive used them in the past when making holes in control panelsfor the insuments to fit into
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August 15th, 2014, 5:53 pm |
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Dennis
Firing on two.
Joined: March 24th, 2009, 9:18 pm Posts: 248 Location: 15340 Mourjou France
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
I'm spoiled for choice! I already have some of the circular cutters for wood/plaster, but I had no idea they were available for metal too. Is the stepped drill something that's easy to use? I can just see myself being a bit enthusiatic and making the largest hole immediately.
Geert - I'm sure the Würth hole cutter is a really nice piece of kit, and accurate too, but Würth don't seem to want to sell it online to individuals, only companies. I'm not likely to use it very often, either.
_________________ Dennis usually in the Cantal
1964 HY 72 (Type H, campervan) - LHD 1969 AZU 250 (formerly French Post Office van) - LHD 1982 Red Special - RHD 1983 Burgundy/Black Charleston - RHD 2017 Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 DSG - LHD
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August 15th, 2014, 5:59 pm |
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ayjay
Firing on two.
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 6:48 pm Posts: 709
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
the stepped cutter/cone cutter is a piece of cake to use i have one in my toolbox its very easy to control and cuts a pefect circle on flat metal try getting one from an electrical wholesaler thats where i got mine the ordinary holesaws have too coarser teeth imo so not so good
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August 15th, 2014, 8:06 pm |
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Sean
Firing on two.
Joined: April 22nd, 2009, 11:06 pm Posts: 3684 Location: Ecosse
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
Geert, known as a "Tank Cutter" ( for cutting burr free holes in water tanks etc)
_________________ Kissing the Lash
 "Any advice of a technical nature is given on the understanding that I've actually done this shit, not just read about it in D*lly club mag some time ago.
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August 15th, 2014, 9:01 pm |
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Geert
Firing on two.
Joined: July 10th, 2010, 12:35 pm Posts: 1159 Location: Magyarország
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
tha , Sean !
_________________ 'T is een kwestie van geduld.........
Ez a türelem kérdése.........
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August 15th, 2014, 9:11 pm |
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Russell
Firing on two.
Joined: November 29th, 2008, 10:05 pm Posts: 9259 Location: West Sussex, U.K.
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 Re: Cutting circular holes
The only tool for cutting perfect circular holes without distortion, swarf or risk of any sort is a Q-Max cutter. Holesaws are almost always rubbish and almost never produce an accurate hole. Stepped drills are better but are inclined to leave a lot of swarf and both heat the metal up and can distort it. A Qmax cutter is basically the same as the Wurth tool, but freely available. I can't recommend NOT using a holesaw enough. Horrible things!
Search Q-Max cutter on amazon or eBay.
_________________
samfieldhouse wrote: What I like about I2F is that there is no pretence of democracy.
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August 16th, 2014, 9:25 am |
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