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Notching Aluminum Tubing

I need to notch some 6061 tubing for TIG welding...the diameter is

3/4" and the wall thickness is .065. I've got a drill press, so I tried clamping the tubing to the table and tilting it to the desired angle before attempting to notch it with a 3/4" bi-metal hole saw. The cut is very ragged, and I'm assuming this is caused by either the drilling speed, the lack of rigidity, or the hole saw itself. I've got a 5 speed drill press, and it's on the slowest setting (this is where I think it should be), and the hole saw is of the $10 variety from Ace. Do I need to change the speed and/or the saw, or do I just need to buy one of those jigs that attaches to my drill press, or something else?
Reply to
dan *5
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I suspect that your problem is not the drill, the speed, or the hole saw. You don't have a good enough hold of the pipe.

Reply to
DanG

Hi Dan, my personal experience, i bought a cheap notching jig from harbor freight, worked crappy, got the same results you're getting. there was a recent discussion on this topic (bruce in bangkok). i suspect (but haven't done it yet myself, $$$) it would require a higher quality notching jig (i don't know if this IS higher quality or if it's the same jig produced in the same factory in china, but they say "made in u.s.a.") (and when i called them they said they have roller bearings in the arbor)

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i also suspect it's necessary to use a hole saw with much finer teeth than the commonly available ones. i used to have a catalog with hole saws... just did a google search, these are the guys,
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they cater to the homebuilt aircraft crowd. pricy though.

b.w.

Reply to
William Wixon

I've used the white Home Depot hole saws on the lathe and mill, which are much more rigid than a drill press, and also gotten a ragged cut.

jw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

Dan, I agree whole heartidly with DanG, the problem is definately because you don't have a good enough hold of the pipe. There are a number of pipe vices out there that you can purchase for very little cost. I have many and if you were a little closer, you could have one for free, they are not expensive. Get a pipe vice, hold it securely and you will have the problem solved. I hope this helps. Best regards, Anthony.

Reply to
antsone

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