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2mm Aluminium
dan8400 - 4/2/10 at 07:40 AM

I bought 2mm aluminiunm (by mistake) to replace the sides on my tiger.

Got a mate who has an industrial bender so i've got it bent to fit the sides, but... i'd like to know how to cut holes in for the suspension. Will a hole cutter do it? Or do i need something else? Got some wood hole cutterss but i doubt these will do it (plus a bit wary after Russ's accident)

Any help/advice apreciated

Thanks
Dan

boggle - 4/2/10 at 08:26 AM

mark on where you want the holes and take them to your nearest laser cutters....

907 - 4/2/10 at 08:40 AM

I find a hole punch a good tool.

Drill a hole for the bolt. Assemble the punch and die either side and tighten the bolt.

These can be used for slots i.e. 2 overlapping holes then file out the bits between.


HTH
Paul G

dan8400 - 4/2/10 at 09:20 AM

What sort of hole punch Paul? Not got lots of £££'s spare at the moment. If it's cheap enough i'll buy one


Dan

deezee - 4/2/10 at 09:39 AM

I used a set of B&Q hole saws on my 2mm aluminium, worked fine. I've also used an air nibbler and rotary sanding wheel on a drill to great success.

dan8400 - 4/2/10 at 10:05 AM

Do they say on them they are for cutting aluminium too? I only ask because I don't want to buy the wrong ones


Dan

dan8400 - 4/2/10 at 10:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by boggle
mark on where you want the holes and take them to your nearest laser cutters....


Are there any laser cutters in lincolnshire? lol we do live in the sticks ya know

Dan

ashg - 4/2/10 at 10:51 AM

i used a dremel

dan8400 - 4/2/10 at 10:56 AM

that could work ash... how about a die grinder? A friend has one i can use. Is this the same thing?

Dan

Nash - 4/2/10 at 11:27 AM

be careful grinding Ali it will clog up Hole punch and file 2mm Ali is as soft as butter and lends itself to dressing.

I also made some "trims" to finish it off

Front Trim On My Indy
Front Trim On My Indy

hope that helps

....Neil


.......Neil

[Edited on 4/2/10 by Nash]

907 - 4/2/10 at 11:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by dan8400
What sort of hole punch Paul? Not got lots of £££'s spare at the moment. If it's cheap enough i'll buy one


Dan



Hi Dan

Like in the pic below. I have a 25, 35, and a 45mm

They are ace tools.
You could use a former (say 60mm) and a plate with a bigger hole (say 80mm) and pull it through a 45 hole
and end up with a 60 hole with a rolled in edge.

I could post one and then you could post it back, but you might be able to buy one for not much more than the postage.

HTH
Paul G Rescued attachment hole punch.jpg
Rescued attachment hole punch.jpg

907 - 4/2/10 at 11:58 AM

Rolled in edge on my exhaust hole.

Paul G Rescued attachment exhaust hole.jpg
Rescued attachment exhaust hole.jpg

James - 4/2/10 at 12:07 PM

Just chain drill it with a 2mm drill bit and then file it smooth.
Took maybe an hour per side on my car.

Cheers,
James

EDIT: Type907's rolled edge looks better and no trim needed for IVA!

[Edited on 4/2/10 by James]

indykid - 4/2/10 at 12:27 PM

that's beatiful paul!

can't wait for pat to get his lathe!
tom

Fred W B - 4/2/10 at 06:49 PM

Any tool designed for wood will work on ally - Hole saw, even a spade bit.

Cheers

Fred W B

Angel Acevedo - 5/2/10 at 01:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fred W B
Any tool designed for wood will work on ally - Hole saw, even a spade bit.

Cheers

Fred W B


If using a hole saw, use light oil to keep shavings off the cutting teeth, it will cut faster and your bit last longer.