How to make "speed holes" using dimple dies
| Line 76: | Line 76: | ||
| − | As you looked over the pictures that you seen here, more than likely your creative juices have started to flow on where you would use them. If I was making a bracket to hold up a piece of sheet metal under a fender, I would bend up an angle bracket or gusset plate and weld or bolt it in. With this idea of dimpling, I would now layout my bracket on sheet steel (satincoat or stainless) take my plastic circle template and black marking pen and draw a series of different sizes of holes on the sheet steel. I would then find the center of each hole, center punch and drill an appropriate hole for my dimpling die and dimple the sheet steel. The dimple would not only make it more ridged, but the flaring would add strength to the bracket. You would then bend up your bracket and weld or bolt it in. The bracket would let air flow through, wouldn't gather debris and would wash cleaner in the rain. | + | As you looked over the pictures that you seen here, more than likely your creative juices have started to flow on where you would use them. If I was making a bracket to hold up a piece of sheet metal under a fender, I would bend up an angle bracket or gusset plate and weld or bolt it in. With this idea of dimpling, I would now layout my bracket on sheet steel (satincoat or stainless) take my plastic circle template and black marking pen and draw a series of different sizes of holes on the sheet steel. I would then find the center of each hole, center punch and drill an appropriate hole for my dimpling die (see note 1) and dimple the sheet steel. The dimple would not only make it more ridged, but the flaring would add strength to the bracket. You would then bend up your bracket and weld or bolt it in. The bracket would let air flow through, wouldn't gather debris and would wash cleaner in the rain. |
Could you also imagine using these dimple holes or oblong flared holes in your frame or panels to allow access to bolt-ons or accessories. Flared holes make good access holes to master cylinders that are located below floor panels and its easy to make covers for them too. | Could you also imagine using these dimple holes or oblong flared holes in your frame or panels to allow access to bolt-ons or accessories. Flared holes make good access holes to master cylinders that are located below floor panels and its easy to make covers for them too. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note 1. An appropriate size for the centering hole for up to 1 inch dimple is 1/2 or 3/4 inches, for 1 to 2 inch dimple is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch hole, and 2 - 3 inch is 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 inch hole. Hole punches make better holes that hole saws, sharper and cleaner. | ||
Your Privacy Choices