I have found a few places that I need to make some holes for some carriage bolts. Specifically, some 3/16" to 1/4" thick angle iron.

What is the easiest way to do this?

I have access to the machine that punches the square holes through.

You seem to have left off were the fauk you live so I can't see if you close. :rolleyes:

Drill a hole then hand-file the corners?

Plasma Cutter. ;)

Drill round holes that the carriage bolts won't quite slide into and pound them in. They won't go anywhere.

I can't remember what they are called but they have punches witha 1/2" drive, basicly you drill a hole put one have of the punch through the hole and attach the other half on the backside and tighten down until it pulls through. Might be tough on 1/4" plate thoughunless you have an impact

Drill and file :beer:

Originally posted by Old Scout
I have access to the machine that punches the square holes through.

You seem to have left off were the fauk you live so I can't see if you close. :rolleyes:

I'm in CA :p:p Actually, the parts are in the south SF Bay Area. Better known as a "short" 2 hour drive from Stockton.

Thanks for the offer though.

Originally posted by Maine Jeepah
Plasma Cutter. ;)

Wish I had one... it would make my life sooo easy on so many projects:(

Originally posted by jdjanda
Drill and file :beer:

That is what I was afraid of :( I'm going to have about 14-16 of them to do. Guess I should break out lots of :beer:

Drill and file unless you can find a press. I've always used square tooth chain saw files. They're small, work great, and they're cheap.

Iuse the new Square bits, with a 220 volt 3 Phase drill.

I use a drill bit. Drill your hole, then lean the drill in a X pattern. I have to do this when I put D-rings in trailers. I put the d-ring in a vice, do the X pattern thing, then pound the carriage bolts through the hole. Granted, I only have to do that to 3/16" mild stuff. I don't know how it would work on 1/4". If you don't mind trashing a bit, it works.


EDIT: Why not use something like a lug stud? It's splined where it passes through the hole, it has a low profile, and it has the smooth head on it.

Mill:flipoff2: punch:flipoff2: plasma:flipoff2: torch:flipoff2: drill and file:( . In that order...:D

I had to do some for 1/2" carriage bolts recently, drilled the hole and used a small christmas tree bit in the die grinder.

Pete