Making a hole in 3/4 " brass rod ?

[Armor]

I need to bore a hole dead center in a 3/4 " brass rod that is 1 1/2" long.

Can I use an End mill to do it?

After I start a center line hole using one of those starter drills.

Is this okay?

I might have to go almost thru the whole thing.

Sorry for not being more on here life and all it's little troubles.

Thanks

Jeff

PS edited to add pics.

Sorry but as a Hobby Machinist my other hobby is Modeling large scale now I used to do 1/35 scale but have moved up to 1/6 scale.

Going to be the rear tow pinnacle will be to added wings to limit side movement and of cause the bored hole for the two tubes that will add the end piece.

So no laughs okay.:lmao:

More pics at the bottom to get the idea of the whole picture.

The brass tubes will be the ones that go into the hole one on one side and the other on the other side.


A little more detail work to add the brass bolts and a done deal.

Again no laughs as a great second hobby and large scale is better actually in price then the 1/35 scale stuff which of late costs more then this scale.

A picture of what it all goes on also, if in the wrong spot then please move it.

An M5 A 1 Stuart about all replaced in parts.

 

[kd4gij]

If it is a center cutting endmill and the the fluts are long enugh then yes it will work so long as your setup is ridged enough

 

[Armor]

If it is a center cutting endmill and the the fluts are long enugh then yes it will work so long as your setup is ridged enough

Yes they are all center cut end mills.

I do have one of those 20 pound Vises still in it's grease all nasty , what I will use to do it ,I really need a flat bottom hole is why I asked about the end mill.

Not many drills leave a flat hole made for metal work.

Jeff

 

[cg 2005]

It is basic plunge milling with a center cutting end mill, so no problem if you are long enough and can hold the rod.

 

[Richard King]

I'm a bit confused, are you trying to drill (bore) the hole on a drill press or in a lathe? In either manners I would step drill after using the center drill. start with a 1/4" then say 3/8", 1/2", 5/8 then the end-mill if you need to have a square bottom. How accurate does it have to be to 3/4". Or are you shooting for .750? If you need decimal dimensions then I would drill a final hole using a reamer.

If size is flexible use a drill, drills will usually drill oversize a litlte. One last thing, when your drilling a soft material you will need to grind your drill leading edge. The leading edge of the drill is designed to pull the drill into the work in a hard surface like steel, you need to blunt that steep angle as it will stall the drill as it pulls into the soft material. I use the side of a grinding wheel to just grind he leading edge flat about 1/6" so it mills the material more then drill. I hope that makes sense? If not I will try to add some pictures.

 

[bjmh46]

Not a good idea to drill with an end mill. It can be done for shallow holes in a rigid machine/setup, but the end mill has no back taper like a drill, and the tool will tend to chatter on deeper holes. You compound the problem in brass, as the positive rake on the tools flutes will want to dig in. Drill undersize and bore or ream or both, depending on the accuracy required.

Regards
Bob

 

[jgedde]

Not a good idea to drill with an end mill. It can be done for shallow holes in a rigid machine/setup, but the end mill has no back taper like a drill, and the tool will tend to chatter on deeper holes. You compound the problem in brass, as the positive rake on the tools flutes will want to dig in. Drill undersize and bore or ream or both, depending on the accuracy required.

Regards
Bob

I agree. The end mill will chatter like crazy and chew up the ID unless the hole is pre drilled with a smaller diameter first.

John

 

[george wilson]

Don't try using an endmill in a drill press as a drill bit. It is designed to cut sideways,and unless you have a very rigid clamping setup,it will grab and go sideways,ruining your work,and your fingers too,if they are in the way.

I'd only use the endmill in a lathe,where the mill and the work are both securely chucked so nothing can grab. You could grind the bottom of a drill to drill a flat hole. Grind it just like the end mill. Start with a NORMAL drill,better yet,a CENTER drill. Finish with the flat bottom drill.

 

[Armor]

Thanks a lot guys I drilled it in a Drill press, and still grabbed like no tomorrow,:whistle:but got it done and now waiting to get it into place.

Thanks again, and yes even with a 25 pound vice would of been a bear to drill.
:whiteflag:



Jeff

 

[ScrapMetal]

Thanks a lot guys I drilled it in a Drill press, and still grabbed like no tomorrow,:whistle:but got it done and now waiting to get it into place.

Thanks again, and yes even with a 25 pound vice would of been a bear to drill.
:whiteflag:

Jeff

One last thing, when your drilling a soft material you will need to grind your drill leading edge. The leading edge of the drill is designed to pull the drill into the work in a hard surface like steel, you need to blunt that steep angle as it will stall the drill as it pulls into the soft material. I use the side of a grinding wheel to just grind he leading edge flat about 1/6" so it mills the material more then drill. I hope that makes sense? If not I will try to add some pictures.

That "grabbing" can really ruin a nice piece of metal or pull the drill chuck right out of it's quill (I KNOW but I'm not ready to talk about it just yet... :banghead I just picked up a set of cheap drill bits from Harbor Fright with the intent of re-purposing them just for making holes in brass and other soft metals. I used a technique similar to what Richard described. It makes a world of difference.

-Ron