Drilling out threaded rod  
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Drilling out threaded rod - 5/17/2008 2:45:37 PM   
west6008


 

Posts: 148
Joined: 11/10/2005
From: Morell, PE, CANADA
Status: offline 		I want to drill out small lengths of 3/16" threaded rod to fit over axles about the thickness
of coat hanger wire. (making home-made wheels)
Even if I had a drill press, that would seem like a tricky job.
Is there a product, or something like it you can buy?
       Post #: 1

RE: Drilling out threaded rod - 5/17/2008 3:16:13 PM   
rednekk58


 

Posts: 165
Joined: 11/26/2004
From: weare, NH, USA
Status: offline 		You could try finding brass tube to fit snug over the rod, then a tube inside that tube, and another tube inside that, until you get down to the drill size you need. Then solder that all together and use it as a drill guide. Don't know if it'll work. A lathe would be way to go.

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(in reply to west6008)
       Post #: 2

RE: Drilling out threaded rod - 5/17/2008 3:51:28 PM   
jetpack



Posts: 1563
Joined: 10/2/2002
From: Portage, IN, USA
Status: offline 		A lathe would be the way to go.

To drill it in a vise you have to protect the threads or they will crush or spin. The easiest way is to utilize jam nuts.

Use four nuts, two on the top, two on the bottom to clamp on in the vise, and square it up from there. The jam nuts will keep the rod from spinning. Locating the two "position" nuts is easy, just spin on two nuts and clamp it in the vise with the one nut hanging out past the jaw a little, and tighten on the jam nut, flip and do the other end. Clamp on just the two aligned nuts. You might need a couple of small blocks to space this all out from the vise when you go to capture it.

To find and locate center will be a bit of a trick, but it will be important on how true your wheels will run. See if you can find yourself a locating punch to put inside a partially threaded nut on the end of the rod.

You could always lay out a mark by scribing across the end with a makeshift height gage. You can index the rod through three sides of the hexes when you scribe, and the center will show up pretty close.

A less fancy method would be to crush the threaded rod into two pieces of hardwood in the vise, making sure the rod is bottomed out in the vise in case it starts to spin.

You could also try to use a die, and try and thread a piece of heavy wall brass tubing. You would have to clamp that with wire in it so it does not crush when you clamp.

< Message edited by jetpack -- 5/17/2008 4:06:27 PM >

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(in reply to rednekk58)
       Post #: 3

RE: Drilling out threaded rod - 5/18/2008 7:44:21 PM   
west6008


 

Posts: 148
Joined: 11/10/2005
From: Morell, PE, CANADA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the input.
Just trying to make light wheels in the old trexler style for planes like Cubs. etc
The store bought wheels are either too heavy or have have hubs meant for an F-16
I found some light rubber balls that would be nice if I could squish a hub into them

(in reply to jetpack)
       Post #: 4

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