thingmaker3 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 A good quality tool well wielded... it just don't get no better! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Why drill a hole first? If its for accurate location, mark the edge(s) of the hole site prior to heating, by centre punching them. If you centrepunch at the centre, you can't see to locate your punch accurately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yves Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Why drill a hole first? If its for accurate location, mark the edge(s) of the hole site prior to heating, by centre punching them. If you centrepunch at the centre, you can't see to locate your punch accurately I had set aside trying to punch square holes because I could not find a way to place the holes accurately. I was waiting for you no doubt... Thus, two centerpunch marks at two corners "et voilà"! Thanks John B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Huntress Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 sometimes the obvious we just don't see.. thats a great idea.. thats why I am here! ..to learn from you guys....plus I don't have an anvil and I have no jig with a pritchet hole... I think thats what it's called... I know the square one in the anvil is the Hardy hole... but I don't have an anvil yet so I'm going to have to get to jig making for what I want to do...... still a green horn ya know.... cheers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 sometimes the obvious we just don't see.. thats a great idea.. thats why I am here! ..to learn from you guys....plus I don't have an anvil and I have no jig with a pritchet hole... I think thats what it's called... I know the square one in the anvil is the Hardy hole... but I don't have an anvil yet so I'm going to have to get to jig making for what I want to do...... still a green horn ya know.... cheers... You have got a drill, so make yourself a bolster plate to put under your work when punching, (The slug should come out clean without this if you strike it right), Check out Bolster Plates in Blacksmiths Tools explained, pinned in the tools section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Were you punching or drifting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsoldat Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 not sure that I have seen it mentioned anywhere yet, but what are the typical diameters of the holes thru a bolster plate. Are they 1/8" over the dia of hole being punched? I assume that you would want it fairly close to support the work best with minium deformation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 There is no standard size clearance, you need a hole that will support the material as near as possible to the size you are punching. You have to make sure you are over the hole in the bolster or you will have problems, 1/8" clearance may be ok on a 1/2" hole through a 2" wide bar 1/2" thick but not appropriate for a 1/8" hole in a 3/32" thick hinge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsoldat Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Thanks for clearing that up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 There is no standard size clearance, you need a hole that will support the material as near as possible to the size you are punching. You have to make sure you are over the hole in the bolster or you will have problems, 1/8" clearance may be ok on a 1/2" hole through a 2" wide bar 1/2" thick but not appropriate for a 1/8" hole in a 3/32" thick hinge. Last time I punched 1/8 inch holes in 3/32 (well, it was rather thin steel, but much thicker than common sheet metal) I did it cold on the end of a log. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Chambers Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I cold punch 1/4" holes in Quarters on a stump one shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Huntress Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 ahhh... a bolster plate..... thanks.... was I punching or drifting? I don't know.... guess in Blacksmith terms it's called drifting.... either way I need a bolster plate.... thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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