[TowerTalk] Cutting Large Holes in Aluminum

[bill wall]

Hi Mike;
Find a machine shop with a Bridgeport type milling machine. Most have a
boring bar attachment. To save money bolt the two bars together and pilot
drill your hole as large as you can. This will produce a perfect hole as
large as you need. If you still live in 9 land there should be plenty of
small shops in 9 and I am sure in 8 land.
                                     Bill  KC4UZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Wetzel" <w9re@worldnet.att.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2001 2:25 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Cutting Large Holes in Aluminum


> I have aluminum rectangular blocks (4"x4"x1") that I need to cut a 3"
> diameter hole in (using them instead of muffler clamps).  I tried a
bi-metal
> hole saw and also a circle cutter with not much success since I need to
make
> about blocks altogether.  I have a metal lathe that I can bore the finish
> diameter on but I would like to get a big chunk of the material out of the
> way (to save some time).  I have also thought of using a smaller drill bit
> (1/2") and drilling a series of holes around the diameter and may do this
> but there seems like there has to be a better (less labor intensive) way.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike W9RE
>
>
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List Sponsor: Are you thinking about installing a tower this summer? Call us
for information on our fabulous Trylon Titan self-supporting towers - up to
96-feet for less than $2000! at 888-833-3104 <A HREF="http://www.ChampionRadio.com">
www.ChampionRadio.com</A>

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