Bumper build

[Greg72]

Time for some paint....

Or not. It' amazing how long you can get away without it in CA and still not have rust. The last week of humid weather here is really starting to give me fits on all my untreated sheetmetal and tubework.

Do you drive around with the plate swung up like that or is that? Does it blow up into that position at highway speeds?

 

[blazin_blazer]

that would be neat...a stealth license plate, have it mounted on a hinge so it would blow back out of view....''what do you mean no tags officer, they are on my front bumper."

 

[4X4HIGH]

Time for some paint....

Or not. It' amazing how long you can get away without it in CA and still not have rust. The last week of humid weather here is really starting to give me fits on all my untreated sheetmetal and tubework.

Do you drive around with the plate swung up like that or is that? Does it blow up into that position at highway speeds?

Paint will come once i finish up a few things.

I leave the plate folded up out of site. I have been contemplating using a morse cable though so i can drop the plate down on the fly for Mr Police officer.

 

[BGKYK5]

You need that 007 device with 3 or 4 different plate numbers.

 

[Joe Blaze]

Ok, here is some progress from last night that i forgot to post. I might have some more progress pics later if i feel energetic enough with this heat we're having.

I know it's an old post, but what kind of drill bit is that?

 

[4X4HIGH]

I know it's an old post, but what kind of drill bit is that?

It's actually a countersink bit. I drilled the holes to 1/2" then used the 5/8" countersink bit to put a chamfer on the holes.

 

[Joe Blaze]

It's actually a countersink bit. I drilled the holes to 1/2" then used the 5/8" countersink bit to put a chamfer on the holes.

did you drill them on a drillpress, or did you use a mill?

 

[4X4HIGH]

did you drill them on a drillpress, or did you use a mill?

I drilled them in my drill press that's in the pic.

 

[Joe Blaze]

I drilled them in my drill press that's in the pic.

i will be doing the same thing soon to a piece of ¼ inch plate to make a bracket to mount my hitch reciever to the frame rails under my front bumper. what kind of bit did you use to go through the steel? i dont usually go through anything that thick.
Also, what grade of steel is best to use for mounting brackets? i will be welding to it also.

 

[dremu]

The trick with metal is to start with a small bit (like 1/8") and work your way up. Step bits are made for this very purpose

I use titanium-coated bits, but even those dull quickly if you start with e.g. the 1/2" bit.

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

i will be doing the same thing soon to a piece of ¼ inch plate to make a bracket to mount my hitch reciever to the frame rails under my front bumper. what kind of bit did you use to go through the steel? i dont usually go through anything that thick.
Also, what grade of steel is best to use for mounting brackets? i will be welding to it also.

I use 135* split point cobalt bits. They cut like butter everytime BUT like Aaron said, make sure you start with an 1/8" bit then step up a couple sizes at a time until you're at your final size if you want your drill bits to last.

I used 1018 cold rolled steel for my brackets and it's plenty for anything you need really. I would suggest using 3/8" thick rather than 1/4" thick though.

 

[dremu]

Oh, and go slooow for metal -- speed builds heat which wrecks the bit. Use a variable-speed drill, or if you're using a press that has adjustable speeds by e.g. shifting a belt, "gear down" to the slowest speed.

You'll also find that cutting oil helps.

-- A

 

[Greg72]

Clamp small parts down too.....

Unless you like clean spiral drill-bit-shaped slices in your hand. Even a weak drill press is stronger than the grip of an aspiring fabricator.

 

[dremu]

Clamp small parts down too.....

Unless you like clean spiral drill-bit-shaped slices in your hand. Even a weak drill press is stronger than the grip of an aspiring fabricator.

I categorically deny ever ripping chunks out of my left thumb and/or bruising my hip in the shape of the workpiece due to the torque of said drillpress at its lowest speed setting.

-- A

 

[Greg72]

.......and I've never watched a drillpress wobble like an out-of-balance washing machine while a huge chunk of odd-shaped steel spins at the end of the drillbit.