Making up some spacers out of 3.5" OD 6061 rod stock, 2.4" ID, 2.5" long. I was able to get solid stock considerably cheaper than tubing with a thick enough wall locally. I figured it would be a double bonus as I could simply cut a dowel of sorts out of the middle with a hole saw, and end up with smaller rod for future projects.
Yep... I'm sure there's laughter already, knowing I was about to find out the hard way that wasn't going to work well. Made it about 3/8" in, while pecking at it, before the teeth started loading up immediately, even with cutting oil. Took a few minutes for the "duh! Chips have no way to evacuate!" moment.
Obviously I could run a large drill through it then start eating away at it with the boring bar, but that would create a ton of waste. Is there another way to go at this, short of an expensive annular cutter?
Yep... I'm sure there's laughter already, knowing I was about to find out the hard way that wasn't going to work well. Made it about 3/8" in, while pecking at it, before the teeth started loading up immediately, even with cutting oil. Took a few minutes for the "duh! Chips have no way to evacuate!" moment.
Obviously I could run a large drill through it then start eating away at it with the boring bar, but that would create a ton of waste. Is there another way to go at this, short of an expensive annular cutter?