[sdiy] Metal Punch for Synth Panels

[James Patchell]

On the subject of drills...you are using the wrong type of drill....

You have two choices to make nice round holes in aluminum with a drill.

Step Drills and Brad Point Drills...I personally prefer Brad Point 
Drills...However, to use a brad point drill in aluminum...I highly 
recommend that you use a drill press.

As far as punches go...you need a Whitney Punch...(a big one)....they are 
great.  I wish I had one...but it is low on the priority list of tools to 
purchase in that you can only make holes with it...and I already have a 
milling machine which can do the same thing...

John Marshall has the type of punch you need...he purchased his 
surplus...which is a great way to get one of these useful tools.

At 07:49 PM 5/31/2005 -0600, Ray Wilson wrote:
>Where can I buy some kind of punch that can make up to 3/8" holes in 1/16" 
>soft aluminum? I am totally sick of drilling holes in the stuff that never 
>drill properly and are never round. Also they tend to leave burrs that I 
>have to ream off of the material. Is it me am I doing something wrong? Are 
>other people actually drilling round holes without burrs easily? If 
>there's a DRILL seargent out there, I could use some help and I mean a 
>HOLE lot of help.
>
>Thanks
>
>Ray

         -Jim
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