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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: liche on November 11, 2002, 07:40:10 am

Title: How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: liche on November 11, 2002, 07:40:10 am

Without spending $200 for an expensive punch, what is the best way to make those square holes on my control panel (1/16" steel) to hold the carriage bolts????

Any help appreciated.
Thanks

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: Lilwolf on November 11, 2002, 09:11:01 am

predrill a whole.   then put the bold in and tighten.  It will make it for you.  At least that is what I did.

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: ErikRuud on November 11, 2002, 09:44:57 am

Lil Wolf, that worked for a steel control panel???

I would drill a hole, and then use a square file.

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: MameFan on November 11, 2002, 10:29:00 am

Use a triangular file.  You can get them for under $3 at the hardware store.  You can usually get a carton of 10 different files, rasps, etc. (square, round, triangular, flat) for $10 or so too.

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: liche on November 11, 2002, 11:24:18 am

Do you know what size pilot hole (prior to filing) is optimal for standard 3/16" carriage bolts. I say standard as I think this is the size most often used in control panels.

Thanks again

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: MameFan on November 11, 2002, 04:26:18 pm

Make it exactly the width of the bolt, under the square... 3/16", then square out the corners.  If you must go smaller wouldn't make it smaller than 1/8", as it would take too long to square out/more apt to mess up.

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: Darkstalker on November 11, 2002, 05:32:31 pm

They actually make bits for cutting square holes...I know they exist for wood, but not sure about metal...

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: eightbit on November 11, 2002, 06:17:38 pm

A mortise bit used for square holes in wood isn't going to help you with metal. I'd suggest the  file route. If you have a lot of holes to do you could always bring it in somewhere.

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: Lilwolf on November 11, 2002, 09:24:07 pm

Sorry, my example was for a wood control panel.

It would probably strip the bolts on a metal CP

Title: Re:How to make SQUARE holes for carriage bolts
Post by: spidermonkey on November 11, 2002, 09:41:36 pm

1/16" steel sounds awfully thin for a control panel but if thats what your using then just drill a 3/16" hole, tighten it and let the bolt do the work for you. 1/16" steel is barely thicker than sheet metal so the carriage bolts should have no problem pulling themselves through. If all your using is 1/16" steel then I would cover it with at least 3/16" or 1/14"  lexan to give the panel some strenth or just use thicker steel.  I used 3/16" steel for my cp and I was still able to just tighten the carriage bolts without having to square out the holes.