Re: Metal Enclosures

["Mark Broker" <broker-at-uwplatt.edu> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

>  Good quality holes saws will cut aluminum (but not steel) if you use them
> with cutting oil and go slowly- don't let the oil smoke- if it does, you're
> getting the cutting teeth hot and will soon detemper the steel.  Use low
> RPM's and do not push hard, let the weight of the drill do the work.

Actually, I know from personal experience that even average quality hole saws
will work fine on standard mild steel.  I have personally used an "average
quality" 1" hole saw to cut curves on the end of 1"OD AISA 4130 steel (about
30HRC), which is *MUCH* harder than any plate you'll ever have to cut a hole
in.  Although it took a while (used a very slow spindle speed), and I was only
able to make a few cuts with one saw, it did work.  Had REAL cutting fluid been
used instead of normal oil (it was all I had), it would have worked even
better.

A mediocre hole saw is only a few bucks (US$), so use it to cut the 5 or so
large holes you need in the steel, then toss it in the garbage.  :-)


Mark B