Drilling multiple holes in a line.

[HCJtractor]

A mag drill won’t work “per se”. Not enough mass for the magnet to work without a bigger base and jig.

Steve (BuckitCase) will hopefully chime in if you decide on this route. He has the mag drill/multiple hole via jig all figured out.

Since you already have a drill press consider what others have mentioned for layout and buy an annular sheet metal cutter for your press.

View attachment 573216


The best way would be to punch the holes on an iron worker. Since I got mine earlier this year I only use my drill presses less than half the time.

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Yes, I looked up how BukitCase does it. Pretty slick set up.
Will a mag drill lock onto a welding table with 1/2” plate top? Just curious. Never used one.

Great ideas everyone. Thanks for all the advice. You guys have do many diverse ideas. I love learning from you.

 

[Reb954]

Times 2 on the peg board but after gluing the peg board to your angle iron, use a 1/4" diameter center punch to mark the holes so there is less chance the drill will walk on you.

 

[Rustyiron]

The best way would be to punch the holes on an iron worker. Since I got mine earlier this year I only use my drill presses less than half the time.

View attachment 573219

My new best friend for the past 8 years or so.:thumbsup:

It's limited (for punching) to the thickness of your material, ie; 3/8" minimum size hole is 3/8, 1/2 is 1/2 etc. I think it a "property" of mild steel that must be adhered to when punching. Iirc my little I/W's (maximum) will punch a 1" hole through 5/8 material.

HCJ, it might be worth a trip to a local fab guy with an iron worker. He might get you for an hour minimum but it's an option, unless you want to drive to Maine. I'll get you a beer and punch them for nuthin.

 

[Big Barn]

HCJ, it might be worth a trip to a local fab guy with an iron worker. He might get you for an hour minimum but it's an option, unless you want to drive to Maine. I'll get you a beer and punch them for nuthin.

I’d be willing to match that but I’d have to provide a FEW beers for a drive to the island.

 

[Big Barn]

Will a mag drill lock onto a welding table with 1/2” plate top? Just curious. .

AS WE SPEAK.... the answer is yes. I’m currently drilling holes for the hold downs on my new anvil. 1/2” plate base.

Here’s a closeup of the hole. 9/16 thru two adjoining pieces of 1/2” plate. Aprx 10 seconds per hole.

 

[Rustyiron]

:thumbsup::laughing:
BB, I'll defer to you as I think you are much more a metal worker than I. Is that 1/2' hole in 1/2" material a "thing". I read it in the book that came with my I/W.

 

[BukitCase]

HJC, since you asked (and Terry threw me under the bus ) here's ANOTHER thread I managed to hijack, has more pics and sources -
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-table-build-6.html?highlight=mag+drill+table

However, for the project you're talking about, I agree with the other comments - there are better ways that've been mentioned.

For one thing, there may be smaller than 7/16" cutters that fit the 3/4" Weldon shank, but I haven't seen them. As Terry mentioned tho, there ARE smaller annular type cutters with regular drill shanks, that would work on your DP if you can find a way to tighten up the table tilt. Be VERY AWARE, though, that not all the sheet metal type cutters will cut deeper than 1/4" - I have this set
Blair 119 Rotobroach Cutter Kit Hole Saw Kit - Hole Saw Sets - Amazon.com

But if you look at the second picture in that link, you'll see that the smaller sizes all have a shoulder (necessary so the adapter will fit) - I just measured my 3/8" cutter, and it would just BARELY cut thru 3/8" thick steel before that shoulder hits.

Here's Blair's info - Blair Rotabroach Hole Cutters

They don't show any cutters below 13/16" with DOC greater than 1/4", but I have their 11090 KIT
Blair 119 Rotobroach Cutter Kit Hole Saw Kit - Hole Saw Sets - Amazon.com

and I know for a FACT that the 3 larger ones have NO SHOULDER, and WILL cut 1/2" DOC. As mentioned, the smaller ones will just BARELY cut thru 3/8" material before hitting the shoulder.

That STILL doesn't help your 3/8" holes unless you stick with a 5/16" wall angle, which is made in every size from 2x3 up to 5x5 -

So, if you can get your DP tightened up and an indexing/support setup figured out, THAT seems like it'd be one of your better choices -

Then again, if you're like ME (I'm told that's not all that common, in SOME ways :laughing:0 my criteria for choices like this is "WANT" = "NEED" - doesn't ALWAYS translate to "GET" , but not for lack of effort... Steve

Add-on - "Will a mag drill lock onto a welding table with 1/2” plate top?"

Terry covered that too; I've drilled 1/8" square tube with the drill sitting on the tube itself, but two things - one, my mag drill is "not yer father's mag drill", I intentionally bought one of the heavier duty ones, (correctly) assuming that, because it's HEAVIER, and meant to hold on vertical surfaces, that the magnet structure has more pull, and (2) I didn't push it quite as hard as I usually do.

Magnets did NOT pull loose on the 1/8" material, but my USUAL table it sits on (the GRAY thing in the pics) is a 12" long piece of 10" C channel (3/8" web) with an ADDITIONAL facing of 1/2" flat bar, full-welded, with ends closed using MORE 1/2" FB - then I surfaced the top (after knocking off most of the weld beads with a flap disk) by using a 3" diameter carbide fly cutter on the mill. This gives me a nice flat surface for the drill to grip.

I'm also planning on adding a "diving board" of 3/4x3 FB that will let me reach further out over the xy table with dual DP vises, couple jobs convinced me it was a worthwhile mod... Steve

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like the pegboard idea. Especially if you spring for metal stuff, and if you are willing to bugger it up, use a 1/4 drill or so to make divets for your hole centers. I don't believe in remaking the wheel if one is available.

Reminds me. A friend with access to a laser once made me chrome pegboard, almost a 4x8 sheet! I never asked or really wanted to know if his boss knew.

 

[Big Barn]

:thumbsup::laughing:
BB, I'll defer to you as I think you are much more a metal worker than I. Is that 1/2' hole in 1/2" material a "thing". I read it in the book that came with my I/W.

lol. Yes. The diameter of punch must always be LARGER than the thickness of the workpiece.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well, I know what I would do... whether it be smart or not. I would convince myself I needed a Mag drill and a nice set of annular bits. This would be what I was rationalize as the 'right' tool after considering an ironworker. That would be an extremely tough sell to the better half.

That said, I really like the pegboard and center punch idea as a poor man's jig.