Best way to drill a 7/8" hole into 1/4" steel.

[Eddo Rogue]

Ummmm..... why the heck don't you just tap the piece of metal? At a quarter inch thick there should be plenty of thread engagement. Use fine threads.

Think you might be making this too complicated......

I thought about this but not sure it will be enough threads. Also I have bigger nuts than taps.

 

[Dirtman]

Also I have bigger nuts than taps.

See a doctor...

 

[MikeG]

Maximum thread strength is usually considered three full turns. And I doubt that casters will need all of that. What are the casters threaded for? 1/4 - 20? 5/16 - 18? Oh and you can put a jam nut on the bottom of the plate. If the threads in the plate won't hold, I doubt you'd be able to shove the nut through it. If you can .... see a doctor as previously suggested

Like I said.... overthinking it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Your making feet for a table? So you need four of these things? I've drilled holes in 1/4" HR steel with the HF 1/4" shank step drill bits. I use my cordless 1/4" impact driver. Seems to work fine even without oil. The bits are cheap, I consider them disposable. I've used the same step drill bits to drill leaf springs centering holes bigger. That steel eats up those bits quick.
PS: you will need to flip the plate over to get the hole to the correct diameter because the steps are smaller than 1/4".

 

[sgtsandman]

Tap magic is a good cutting fluid.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Maximum thread strength is usually considered three full turns. And I doubt that casters will need all of that. What are the casters threaded for? 1/4 - 20? 5/16 - 18? Oh and you can put a jam nut on the bottom of the plate. If the threads in the plate won't hold, I doubt you'd be able to shove the nut through it. If you can .... see a doctor as previously suggested

Like I said.... overthinking it.

I was gonna use 1/2" or 3/4" bolts, not very long, just to level it on high/low spots. Caster are not threaded, they bolt to caster plates. I was gonna weld a bolt to the plate to make it threaded

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Your making feet for a table? So you need four of these things? I've drilled holes in 1/4" HR steel with the HF 1/4" shank step drill bits. I use my cordless 1/4" impact driver. Seems to work fine even without oil. The bits are cheap, I consider them disposable. I've used the same step drill bits to drill leaf springs centering holes bigger. That steel eats up those bits quick.
PS: you will need to flip the plate over to get the hole to the correct diameter because the steps are smaller than 1/4".

I normally do the same, but the only step bit I have that goes past 1/2" is dull and I need a 7/8" hole.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

You people have no idea what you're talking about.

Taps... lubes... nuts....

You're perforating metal, not going to an orgy. Sheesh.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

rotobroach

 

[ericbphoto]

You people have no idea what you're talking about.

Taps... lubes... nuts....

You're perforating metal, not going to an orgy. Sheesh.

I have no idea what i just saw. But it looked cool.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I have no idea what i just saw. But it looked cool.

Most of what we do is perforating steel and rock.

Thats a perforating gun going off inside a section of 5-1/2 in. steel casing (pipe) to demonstrate the power it has to open up rock after punching casing.

Instant 7/8in holes. What could be better??

 

[pjtoledo]

Most of what we do is perforating steel and rock.

Thats a perforating gun going off inside a section of 5-1/2 in. steel casing (pipe) to demonstrate the power it has to open up rock after punching casing.

Instant 7/8in holes. What could be better??

add some methane?

 

[Shran]

A good step bit should have zero issues with a hole that size. I realize they are probably more for sheet metal but I use them for thick steel all the time, they work great if used correctly. Irwin and DeWalt make good ones. Problem is finding one with enough space between the steps so that they cut all the way though without getting to the next hole size. Horrible Freight step bits are junk.

Silver & deming bits work great too. I have a ton of them and even the cheap ones (tool shop brand from Menards) cut nice holes if you keep them sharp.