New garage time!

[fatjay]

Got 2 more panels up. It's finally starting to look like something.

Drilling these holes is killing me, my shoulders hurt so much. I can't put my weight on it so I have to use shoulder and bicep muscles. It' hurts pretty bad after about 2 and there's 4 per panel.

So I made the HoleMaker 300™, patent pending, by modifying a drill press to be a portable drill press that I can clamp to the rails and drill more easily.

But when I try to weld the thing, it just falls off. I am getting penetration, but after it cools, it just comes off. What kind of metal is this and how can i weld it?

 

[EddieWalker]

Would a magnetic drill press work? Amazon.com : Power Magnetic Drill Presses

 

[fatjay]

Would a magnetic drill press work? Amazon.com : Power Magnetic Drill Presses

I actually bought the vevor last night, should be here friday. The base i'm drilling on is only 2" wide, I'm hoping it's enough for the magnet to hold secure.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I actually bought the vevor last night, should be here friday. The base i'm drilling on is only 2" wide, I'm hoping it's enough for the magnet to hold secure.

You could always clamp a piece of metal beside the base to make it temporarily wider.

 

[fatjay]

It works, and it worked great. 2 c clamps on the flange. Got 4 more up and finished the second row.

https://imgur.com/heEwnKz

 

[sodamo]

Gonna guess you can appreciate why I predrilled mine on the ground. Was easier to tweak those a bit off once in place. Mr Step Drill was my friend. Can’t tell the difference now.
Just a wee bit jealous you justified a Mag Drill

 

[fatjay]

I put the

Gonna guess you can appreciate why I predrilled mine on the ground. Was easier to tweak those a bit off once in place. Mr Step Drill was my friend. Can’t tell the difference now.
Just a wee bit jealous you justified a Mag Drill

I put the rails up and the panels in place then scribe the holes to drill. I have measured and measured to get the rails perfectly strait, and they are. And yet, the holes in the panels always seem to be in a slightly different place. These are 20' angle iron pieces, that laid on the ground for 2 months. They're not super strait and can be off by a half inch over the 20' run.

 

[fatjay]

 

[fatjay]

Power's out, for some reason. It's sunny and 55f out. 2 battery systems are running minimal services, but it would be nice to get everything converted.

 

[airbiscuit]

Someone should make that into a video game!

I got nervous watching you raise the solar panel.

 

[fatjay]

Someone should make that into a video game!

I got nervous watching you raise the solar panel.

Imagine how nervous I was lifting it! I almost bit the dust once when a gust of wind came through.

I scored a free panel years ago that i'll use for the solar stuff. Plenty of room in here.

And it's even inspected!

 

[fatjay]

Got mag drill. Did a couple tests. Was worried that the magnetic base wouldn't hold, but sure enough, it worked great.

I was cutting to slow, around 400rpm. When I add cutting oil I'll up the speed. It maxes at 800rpm which is perfect.

https://imgur.com/wyaDz80

 

[airbiscuit]

Is there a reason you don't drill a pilot first?

 

[fatjay]

Is there a reason you don't drill a pilot first?

I did with some. I've snapped 4 bits because of it. With it clamped down, unless the drill is perfectly centered on the pilot hole, it'll put lateral pressure on the bit, which snaps them. Even if I get it perfectly centered, when I pull the bit up I can still see it moving a bit because it's not perfect.

When I was hand drilling I did pilot holes and that eased the pain a bit, but it was still taking forever.

Also changing bits is time consuming. With oil and the proper drill speed, I'm through in 10 seconds. I haven't lost a bit due to dulling yet, but 4 to breaking, and they're $18 a pop.

 

[sodamo]

Have you considered a step bit?

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[fatjay]

Have you considered a step bit?

I've never tried them, always been curious. But my material is 3/8" thick so i'm not sure it would work.

 

[fatjay]

View attachment 1510881

That's what I have.

Milwaukee 3/8 in. Cobalt Red Helix Twist Drill Bit 48-89-2321 - The Home Depot

The MILWAUKEE RED HELIX Cobalt 3/8 in. Drill Bit are engineered for extreme durability and longer life in hard metal applications. The Milwaukee Cobalt drill bits are designed with a VARIABLE HELIX that

www.homedepot.com

 

[EddieWalker]

I need to buy one of those magnetic drills. I've borrowed one from a friend and I was impressed by how much easier it is to drill through metal with it. But instead, I just buy several brand new drill bits when I have a bunch of holes to drill.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

What kind of metal is this and how can i weld it?

Not sure. Chinesium?

glad the Vevor is working.

I like a good split point drill, but a home hand regrind is pretty much out of town. Not doable. Note at center there is virtually no web.
Cobalt is the best.
https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Latr...1b-93c2-5b86a8b7ce9f&pd_rd_i=B000LDIR5Q&psc=1