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Canopy drill bits?
- Thread starter Dbro172
- Start date
Don't buy, make your own!
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1925304573001
I've known a few people that make their own bits and they works just great. Here Brian shows how to use those old broken drill bits you have.
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1925304573001
I've known a few people that make their own bits and they works just great. Here Brian shows how to use those old broken drill bits you have.
tfarrell839
Active Member
From the horse's mouth.
As per a recent conversation with the owner of the factory that makes at least the RV-4 and RV-8 canopies:
Use a standard #40 for 40 holes, diamond cut plexiglass bits for holes up to 3/16 and step drill bits for holes larger than that. Go slow at first, speed up as you go and slow down as you exit the material out the back. Back up with wood.
This comes from someone who does it every single day.
As per a recent conversation with the owner of the factory that makes at least the RV-4 and RV-8 canopies:
Use a standard #40 for 40 holes, diamond cut plexiglass bits for holes up to 3/16 and step drill bits for holes larger than that. Go slow at first, speed up as you go and slow down as you exit the material out the back. Back up with wood.
This comes from someone who does it every single day.
jdeas
Well Known Member
waste in flutes
One note of caution. Think twice about drilling from plex to alum. Once the bit tip translates from plex to the tougher alum the feed will 'snap' the plex waste at the start of the drill flutes.
May not cause any real damage but it gave me paused so I changed my process to always start from the alum side when using std flute drills in plex.
One note of caution. Think twice about drilling from plex to alum. Once the bit tip translates from plex to the tougher alum the feed will 'snap' the plex waste at the start of the drill flutes.
May not cause any real damage but it gave me paused so I changed my process to always start from the alum side when using std flute drills in plex.
flyboy1963
Well Known Member
..another new idea?
Tim, I had never heard of the 'diamond' drill bit.
Diamond Dusted Drill Bits
Diamond dusted bits can drill through hard plastics. Manufacturers bond diamond dust coating to the exteriors of these bits . This dust enables the bit's cutting edge to remain sharp. The bits come with a 60 degree points and 0 degree rake. Diamond dusted bits are good for stack drilling or drilling multiple layers of plexiglass or plastic materials. These bits are a little harder to find in local hardware and home improvement stores. You may have to purchase them online.
interesting. I can see that it might remove some of the tooling scars from the inside of the holes, thus relieving stress risers to some degree also.
No doubt the advice you got from the manufacturer was good; just a reminder that they are drilling warm, soft, new acrylic. Often we are challenged with old, hard, cold product ....by the time we get around to this job!
Tim, I had never heard of the 'diamond' drill bit.
Diamond Dusted Drill Bits
Diamond dusted bits can drill through hard plastics. Manufacturers bond diamond dust coating to the exteriors of these bits . This dust enables the bit's cutting edge to remain sharp. The bits come with a 60 degree points and 0 degree rake. Diamond dusted bits are good for stack drilling or drilling multiple layers of plexiglass or plastic materials. These bits are a little harder to find in local hardware and home improvement stores. You may have to purchase them online.
interesting. I can see that it might remove some of the tooling scars from the inside of the holes, thus relieving stress risers to some degree also.
No doubt the advice you got from the manufacturer was good; just a reminder that they are drilling warm, soft, new acrylic. Often we are challenged with old, hard, cold product ....by the time we get around to this job!
flyingriki
Well Known Member
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