Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
- seattle
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Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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.
- BobL
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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
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
- BobL
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
You could also use a reamer... just make sure it's harder than your washer:
https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D4140- ... 005W17DFC/
https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D4140- ... 005W17DFC/
- rumfoord
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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.
- _nash
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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.
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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)
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)
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
- countertext
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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?”.
- BobL
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
countertext wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:00 amI 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?”.
Yeah... I'd recommend he grab it with a set of vise grips or C clamp it to a board or something...
- ThePearDream
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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).Shadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:41 pmMcMaster 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)
Doug
@dpcannafax
@dpcannafax
- hpr_hpr
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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.ThePearDream wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:00 pmThis 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).Shadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:41 pmMcMaster 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)
When thinking about any advice given always ask yourself "why would (s)he know more than I do".
- seattle
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
I ended up find some correct washers on Ebay and those just can in (and worked).
- Rgand
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Re: Enlarging the hole in a stainless steel washer?
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.