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Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:42 pm
by seattle
How can I enlarge the hole in a stainless steel washer. Currently I'm using a round file but it's slow going at the moment.

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:02 pm
by BobL
Stepping bit... hold it in a vise or even C clamp it to a board. One of the best things you can purchase for doing stuff to guitars.

This one is cheap and has done very well for me on a bunch of amp chassis holes, acoustic endpin holes, etc.:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C ... UTF8&psc=1

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:04 pm
by BobL
You could also use a reamer... just make sure it's harder than your washer:

https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D4140- ... 005W17DFC/

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:31 pm
by rumfoord
Not the best way at all, but if you have a limited tool cabinet...I bet you could get by using masking tape to strap the washer down to a piece of wood and using a drill. You'd want to use very light downward pressure to keep the drill bit from digging in and catching in the metal.

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:48 pm
by _nash
I think BobL has it right. There’s a dremel tool that’s a sort of conic grinder. I’ve used it with good results.

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:41 pm
by Shadoweclipse13
McMaster Carr
We use these guys for work. Their selection is fantastic, prices are good, and they sell to private citizens (don't need a corporate account). It'll be on your doorstep in 2 days after ordering. (In case the modification doesn't go well)

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:00 am
by countertext
I don’t have anything useful to add, but I initially read the title of this thread as “Accidentally tearing chunks of flesh out of my thumb and index finger?”.

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 am
by BobL
countertext wrote:
Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:00 am
I don’t have anything useful to add, but I initially read the title of this thread as “Accidentally tearing chunks of flesh out of my thumb and index finger?”.
:D

Yeah... I'd recommend he grab it with a set of vise grips or C clamp it to a board or something...

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:00 pm
by ThePearDream
Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:41 pm
McMaster Carr
We use these guys for work. Their selection is fantastic, prices are good, and they sell to private citizens (don't need a corporate account). It'll be on your doorstep in 2 days after ordering. (In case the modification doesn't go well)
This is the best advice. Get the right sized washer. If you have an ACE Hardware or similar near you, you can pick from probably a hundred stainless steel washers, and buy a single one for, like, 20¢. That's a much better use of your time (and safer than trying to drill it out).

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 7:44 pm
by hpr_hpr
ThePearDream wrote:
Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:00 pm
Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:41 pm
McMaster Carr
We use these guys for work. Their selection is fantastic, prices are good, and they sell to private citizens (don't need a corporate account). It'll be on your doorstep in 2 days after ordering. (In case the modification doesn't go well)
This is the best advice. Get the right sized washer. If you have an ACE Hardware or similar near you, you can pick from probably a hundred stainless steel washers, and buy a single one for, like, 20¢. That's a much better use of your time (and safer than trying to drill it out).
Second that, especially if it's stainless ... those alloys are REALLY hard and finding a step bit that will touch them is going to be expensive (and don't try it with anything but a conical grinder or step bit - I'll guarantee you the hole will be off center ... if it's mild steel a harbor freight bit will work for one or two jobs (don't even try if it's stainless). Finally if you go the modification route make sure you have the washer fixed to something solid and be VERY careful if you're planning on using anything but a pedestral drill ... if the bit grabs very unfortunate events might take place.

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:28 pm
by seattle
I ended up find some correct washers on Ebay and those just can in (and worked).

Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:44 am
by Rgand
Having worked with stainless for years, I'm in the 'get the right washer' crowd. Stainless is hard and to drill it out needs pressure so you can get the bit through it before it heats up. Otherwise you'll burn the bit and ruin the washer. The only methods I've seen mentioned here that I've used successfully is a round file or a dremel (or die grinder) and the dremel can grab the thing right out of the jaws on your vice. Vice grips can hold one somewhat but they can also mar the washer so if you're going to see it, that's not necessarily a great option. The round file is really the safest way to enlarge the hole in one that I know of.