• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

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


ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,213
Reaction score
16,350
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
EDM and water jet both make very nice holes.
 


MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
An end mill in a drill press chuck isn't the best idea. Kinda useful IF you are cutting pretty soft materials and you go SLOW. The helix angle on an end mill will cause it to pull INTO the work, whereas a normal twist drill has at least some resistance going into the work, at least till it breaks through at the end and grabs. Anyway that is the reason for the flat on the shank of an end mill, so it can be locked into the collet and not pull out.

Normally end mills are used in collets that match the end mill diameter, although reduced shank end mills certainly exist.

With a drill press, I might try a step drill - carefully. Just 'peck' it a little at a time so the chips clear, with cutting oil of course. You can go too slow in steel, and cause it to work-harden, by the way. Plus going too slow is hell on drill bit cutting edges. Just sayin' .... there's a sweet spot where the chips are nicely formed.

Anyway a good set of drill bits is a worthwhile investment if you are going to do any metalworking at all. As is a drill-bit sharpener.
 

MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
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......
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,054
Reaction score
13,527
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
Find someone with an ironworker that can just punch a hole through it.

48561
 
Last edited:

mikkelstuff

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
603
Reaction score
467
Points
63
Location
Brighton, CO
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Use a good quality (Lenox for example) bi-metal hole saw with lots of oil. I have done this for larger holes in 1/4" steel channel iron.
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,213
Reaction score
16,350
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.

MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
12GA solid tungsten slug..... ;)
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,213
Reaction score
16,350
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.

MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
That’s smaller than what he wants
Figure at impact the hole will be a little bigger.... ;)

But we can always upgrade to 10ga as needed
 

scotts90ranger

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
7,929
Reaction score
4,227
Points
113
Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
I second or is it third? the hole saw thing, I think it's 3/4" or 7/8" for bolt on 3 point pins for tractors, I drilled new holes lower on my brush hog frame that's 3/8" bar stock and used a hole saw, quick, easy and clean holes...
 

Grumpaw

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Mar 20, 2019
Messages
2,189
Reaction score
1,504
Points
113
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
Ford Ranger XL
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock
Total Drop
Stock
Tire Size
Stock 225/70/15
My credo
I don't count birthday's anymore...just happy to be looking down at the ground instead of looking up
Use this...
 

Attachments

MaicoDoug

Active Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
173
Reaction score
55
Points
28
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
Get some dry moly lockset lube in a tube at the home store. Mix as mix equal parts of moly & motor oil (not synthetic) make it black. thin it with wd40 if needed, place aside. Using a "step bit" with a 3/8ths (not the 1/4" hex) shank spin the cutter slowly and press hard (feeds & speeds) All steel requires a lot of pressure & slow cutter speed. I used this method to cut 1/2" thick cold rolled steel to a good quality 1" hole. The step bit was a 1" step bit cutter from harbor freight. Good junk. I mean good luck.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Oh god when will it end!

Screenshot_20200923-145030_Chrome.jpg
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,213
Reaction score
16,350
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top