Using a Flycutter

Feb 27, 2005 84 Replies

I picked up a flycutter for my drill press at Sears yesterday, so I'm looking for advice from those experienced with making centering rings and bulkheads with these. What techniques does one use for setting it up to get the size holes you want? When making a centering ring, should a guy cut the ID first, then the OD, or vice-versa? Benefits and disadvantages of a particular method?



TIA,


OD first Use gloves It is a dangerous tool.

Run it at a very slow speed with very light feed.

They jam easily.

Also, do yourself a favor. Paint the business end orange and keep your fingers far away from the cutter while working. You only have to whack yourself once to get the idea.

Clamp the work securely. Do not hand-hold. Cut the OD first.

don't use gloves around ANY spinning tools.. it's better to wack a finger than to grab a gloved hand and wrap it around the tool or spindle.

Don't use gloves. the cutter can grab them and pull your hand in. Use clamps - it's very easy to get wacked (or worse) by the cutter when holding by hand. Do the OD first. Feed slowly. You can screw the ring to a piece of scrapwood by the id part of the ring that will become waste. The deepest cutting part of the cutter should be oriented toward the part of the ring that you will be using.

A couple of things not already mentioned -

1) Drill the pilot hole first 2) Swap the pilot drill in the flycutter with appropriate sized drill rod. This will prevent you from enlarging the pilot hole. 3) You can put a phone book under your shirt for extra protection. You can hurt yourself with these things. Keep the RPM under 500. Having the drill press bolted to the floor is also a good thing. 4) replace the wimpy allen screws with square headed lock bolts. 5) put a piece of scrap wood underneath the workpiece, and keep the cutter sharp. 6) the cutting angle on the stock cutting bit is primarily for metal. It's less than optimal for wood.

Cheers, Dave Ambrose

phunnie

phunnie

phunnie phunnie

whatever

Yes, yes, yes.

Probably.

Jerky,

Your a$$hole/jerk response ("phunnie") is an example one of your many demonstrated character detractors.

Fred

Jerry Irv> >

I would say "get a life", but I know it has zero chance of happening.

Everytime I raise an issue or question specific to you you dodge it.

One would think you have nothing to hide.

Jerry

Jerry,

Bob made some very good suggestions, that's what I'm looking for. Why do you have to be so mean? The guy didn't ask for that kind of treatment. Please try to refrain from being such a wanker, and quit ruining valid, on-topic threads.

You are wrong.

I am not mean.

I have used circle cutters for years/decades. Longer than the next three posters here combined. So take my comments as expert advise.

Then if you fail to apologize I will forgive you.

Tech Jerry

The cutting part of the tool is bevelled. To make CRs, cut the OD first, making sure that the bevel is on the outside. When you cut the ID, reverse the cutter so that the bevel is on the inside. That way, you'll get reasonably square edges.

That's excellent! Then post some expert advice, please.

What you posted seemed pretty mean and mocking to me, perhaps I missed something?

What do I have to apologize for? Calling you a mean wanker? Quit acting like one, and I will apologize.

Agreed and make sure your work is held down wel;, do not hold it with your hands

I strongly disagree with this. First, you should never get your hands close to the spinning tool but if for some reason you do, gloves will make it a lot easier for the tool to grab a hold and twist your hand around the chuck. I know a few wood workers and machinists that this has happened too and it isn't pretty.

Very true, but as with any tool, you have to respect it and what it can do. Also turn the speed down as far as you can.

You see jerry, I'm not the only one recognizing you character traits.

Fred

When you talk about Jerry, those are qualities.

And what was the issue this time??? I think "get a life" goes both ways.

Wow if phunnie, yes yes yes, whatever and probably is your idea of expert advice then I think you have brought yourself much closer to everybodys kill file.

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