suggestions for holes in bed frame.

[chopped]

I am a poor person who uses bedframe angle all the time.
I know it is hardned and brittle but it is fine for many uses.
So for years I was able to torch a hole where needed, But now I dont use the torch much.
Anyways a drill will dull real quick or break etc.
does anyone have anty suggestion how to get holes in it other than buying a super drill bit?I am going to try and 'burn' a hole with the arc welder next. Ill see how that works.lol
I considered hittin it prier to drilling with the grinder or torch to heat it . Is that an oprtion?
Thanks..

 

[chopped]

Update.
Its cooold out but i set the amps all the way up and arced a hole trough, it worked great.Ony needed small holes but i could make them bigger if I had wobbled the rod.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Burning or punching are the only ways I know if to put a hole in a bed rail. I've tried drilling and even grinding.

Someone may have some advice for how to re-temper the steel to make it easier to drill. I know it can be done, but I don't know how to do it.

 

[zzvyb6]

I use bed frame angle iron all the time. Throw it in a burn barrel or a wood file so the end you want to drill gets the heat.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Lots of comments:ashamed: I have in my head about WHY:ashamed:?? most should not be shared out loud.

 

[Baby Grand]

If you have a compressor and an arc welder, then a carbon arc rod and a focused stream of high velocity air can do the job. Personally, I use an oxyacetelyne cutting torch. With a little practice you can burn a decent 1/4 inch hole thru that stuff fairly quickly and reliably. The O/A torch is also great for removing all the various rivets/bosses/punched lugs you'll find on bed rails. You're not the only one who can't pass by a set of free angle irons on the side of the road with coming home with some scrap.

Either method is great for heat treating pre and post weld. Also great for hot forming.

-Jim

 

[tree grower]

I bored a lot of holes with my welder before taking the plunge and buying a torch. In my experience, the best way to get a quick hole with a stick welder is to use 6011 rod. It is very deep-penetrating, so welding light material must be done at a low setting. Anything approaching 100 amps will blow a hole thru bed rail pretty fast.

 

[not2old]

My excuse for using bed frame angle is that I'm frequently PAID GOOD MONEY to haul it away and dispose of it. I don't have any more trouble drilling it than I have drilling stainless steel. Use a good quality high speed steel drill bit or better. Start with a 1/8" pilot drill. Use lots of pressure for the bit size and turn it slow. Using coolant or oil will also help but I usually don't bother.

 

[sal64]

I am a poor person who uses bedframe angle all the time.
I know it is hardned and brittle but it is fine for many uses.
So for years I was able to torch a hole where needed, But now I dont use the torch much.
Anyways a drill will dull real quick or break etc.
does anyone have anty suggestion how to get holes in it other than buying a super drill bit?I am going to try and 'burn' a hole with the arc welder next. Ill see how that works.lol
I considered hittin it prier to drilling with the grinder or torch to heat it . Is that an oprtion?
Thanks..

bed frame angle isnt hard i drill it all the time for projects, use a hhs drillbit .

 

[sandman2234]

Correct speeds and feeds will show you that bed angle isn't all that difficult.
David from jax

 

[Travelover]

I also use an arc welder to plunge holes in hardened metal. I do this with "T" posts, too.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My experience has shown that some bed rails are a LOT harder than others. I've had some that no matter what I do to them, I can't drill.

 

[kjung17]

If you're trying to work a piece of hard metal, heat it until it's cherry red and let cool. Do not quench. That will remove the temper. Re-tempering is a little more tricky.

 

[JohninCT]

Get yourself a set of bits from Bad Dog Tools
Bad Dog Tools > Home

Drilling thru a file
YouTube - Re: Baddog Tools Put to the Test

 

[2manyrocks]

I think there has been a similar thread on this before.

I gave up and try to figure out how to get by with only welds. Sometimes, the metal is brittle to the point that it breaks at the welds.

It's curious to me how there are so many cheap, fabricated metal gizmos that come out of China when I can't even buy the raw steel at the same cost to make the same thing. And where do the Chinese get the same orange paint for everything?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Get yourself a set of bits from Bad Dog Tools
Bad Dog Tools > Home

Drilling thru a file
YouTube - Re: Baddog Tools Put to the Test

Way cool.

I want.

 

[PutnamVictor]

I think there has been a similar thread on this before.

I gave up and try to figure out how to get by with only welds. Sometimes, the metal is brittle to the point that it breaks at the welds.

It's curious to me how there are so many cheap, fabricated metal gizmos that come out of China when I can't even buy the raw steel at the same cost to make the same thing. And where do the Chinese get the same orange paint for everything?

So true.

So funny!

 

[sal64]

files are casehardend just the outer shell is hard about .015 deep, that can be drilled with any good cobalt drill, also that drill is shot after drilling that file,lets see them drill a berrin race. in my oppinion.

 

[jimmysisson]

Can't see why drilling a bearing race is a test of a bit. Most folks drill only mild steel (and bed frames) and other relatively soft metals. I'll have to try drilling a file - never did. Maybe they're not as hard to drill as I imagine? In the vid the drill speed was 'way higher than I'd have thought right.
Jim

 

[chip_laugal]

I have drilled bed frame angle iron with a carbide masonry drill that I sharpened like a normal drill. To sharpen the carbide drill I use a "green" grinding wheel and grind the point the same as a normal drill. It drills fine, lasts a long time, and the drills are cheap to buy.
Chip