What did YOU do today?

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok the box is ready to go into the truck so I can locate the brackets I have, mark and drill holes. While inventorying what I have as far as rivet nuts, I have the 3/8"-16 rivet nuts I need but no matching mandrel with the rivet nut setter kit. Thankfully, amazon has one that they say will fit the tool and will be here tomorrow.

I still need to dig through the left over hardware from the trailer to see what I have in 3/8", but since I discovered I didn't have the mandrel, I needed to make sure I could get one before I decided what to do from that point. The other bolts and tee nuts I need are 1/4" and 5/16". The local hardware store will have those as well as the 3/8" bolts, if I end up needing them. I'll need to look at washers too. One set of brackets have 1/2" holes. So, I may need to get some larger washers to make sure the smaller bolts won't pull through.

Should have said something, my rivet nut tool does up to 3/8”-16 and I have an assortment of stainless to match

 

[sgtsandman]

Should have said something, my rivet nut tool does up to 3/8”-16 and I have an assortment of stainless to match

I just found out today and time is getting short. The trip is a little over two weeks away, which sounds like a lot until you factor in meetings, drill, and so on taking away some of that time. That being said, if the mandrel ends up not fitting, I may be giving you a call. As far as the bolts, I'm interested. I'm guessing 1" will work but I'm not sure 3/8" bolts come that short as a standard length. I also need to look underneath before I drill so I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

That's important. Also, a trick I've adopted to make sure the drill doesn't punch through too far... I get a piece of pipe or tubing that fits loosely over the drill bit. Cut to length so that when slit iver the drill bit, mounted in the drill, only about 1/4" of bit extends past the tube. That acts as a stop when the drill breaks through the material ensuring you don't accidentally push it into something else. 1/2" EMT or copper tubing would work well for a 3/8" drill bit.

 

[sgtsandman]

That's important. Also, a trick I've adopted to make sure the drill doesn't punch through too far... I get a piece of pipe or tubing that fits loosely over the drill bit. Cut to length so that when slit iver the drill bit, mounted in the drill, only about 1/4" of bit extends past the tube. That acts as a stop when the drill breaks through the material ensuring you don't accidentally push it into something else. 1/2" EMT or copper tubing would work well for a 3/8" drill bit.

I have some scrap pieces from past plumbing work that will work nicely for that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I just found out today and time is getting short. The trip is a little over two weeks away, which sounds like a lot until you factor in meetings, drill, and so on taking away some of that time. That being said, if the mandrel ends up not fitting, I may be giving you a call. As far as the bolts, I'm interested. I'm guessing 1" will work but I'm not sure 3/8" bolts come that short as a standard length. I also need to look underneath before I drill so I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

Pretty sure I have 1” in 3/8”, might have some 1.25 or 1.5” long. I know I have some stubby button caps in 3/8” because I bought a pack just to use two on my farm tractor. I have the stainless rivet nuts too. Might put an order in for some more bolts soon too…

 

[sgtsandman]

Pretty sure I have 1” in 3/8”, might have some 1.25 or 1.5” long. I know I have some stubby button caps in 3/8” because I bought a pack just to use two on my farm tractor. I have the stainless rivet nuts too. Might put an order in for some more bolts soon too…

We'll see what happens with the mandrel I ordered. I'd hate to just drive all the way up there just to mooch some bolts off of you. With the price of gas, it might be cheaper to just buy the bolts locally.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

We'll see what happens with the mandrel I ordered. I'd hate to just drive all the way up there just to mooch some bolts off of you. With the price of gas, it might be cheaper to just buy the bolts locally.

I hear you. I need to redo the trans mount on the Choptop to try and see if it will tolerate highway speeds better and I still need to get the green Ranger fixed, otherwise I might be headed out your way sometime soon.

 

[sgtsandman]

Amazon is running late. So, Ill work with what I have and pick up some hardware to install the one set of drawer slides. Hopefully, amazon will deliver the mandrel tomorrow and I can finish installing the box. Oh, I need to pick up a 9/16" drill bit too. I don't have anything that big other than a step drill. Looking underneath, I'm not sure I'll have enough clearance up front to use a step bit.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Amazon is running late. So, Ill work with what I have and pick up some hardware to install the one set of drawer slides. Hopefully, amazon will deliver the mandrel tomorrow and I can finish installing the box. Oh, I need to pick up a 9/16" drill bit too. I don't have anything that big other than a step drill. Looking underneath, I'm not sure I'll have enough clearance up front to use a step bit.

I’m honestly not sure I have a 9/16” bit… I know I have 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 in twist drill. I’m not excited about ever using that 3/4” again, but I have two holes to drill with it because I didn’t plan correctly. The last time I used it was with my right angle drill on the plow mount on my F-150 and when it caught, that drill lifted me off the ground and smashed my head into the front of the truck…

 

[scotts90ranger]

Worked a little on cleaning the shop tonight, didn't get too far since it was hot and sweaty... Trying to get some stuff in the loft so far I ratchet strapped my spare 1354 and 4406 T cases to a dolly but wheeled the engines over to where I can get them on dollies so I can get them up to the loft and out of my dang way

 

["Risky Bizness"]

Going to do a dealer trade today for a RAPTOR R F-150

 

[Curious Hound]

I’m honestly not sure I have a 9/16” bit… I know I have 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 in twist drill. I’m not excited about ever using that 3/4” again, but I have two holes to drill with it because I didn’t plan correctly. The last time I used it was with my right angle drill on the plow mount on my F-150 and when it caught, that drill lifted me off the ground and smashed my head into the front of the truck…

I have twist drills up to an inch. But past 5/8", I try to only use them in the drill press.

 

[superj]

The wife and i helped our youngest son and his girlfriend moce apartments yesterday. The news said it was 109 with 70% humidity..... it felt like it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have twist drills up to an inch. But past 5/8", I try to only use them in the drill press.

I haven’t had a drill press to use until recently and what I have now is a little bench top one. I haven’t tried that yet.

I did buy an electric/hydraulic steel punch thing though which beats drilling holes when you can use it. I don’t regret buying it at all.