Okay, so I'm fairly new to doing my own fabrication. I have basic welding skills, and access to a small shop with basic tools. I'm building myself a front bumper for my Scout, and want to make some D-ring mounts on it. I've got a couple of chunks of 1x2 inch bar stock that I've cut down to make the mounts with. My question, is what is the best way to bore a hole in the senter of them, so that I can mount the rings?

We've got a drill press... but no bits that could handle a task like that... And I'm thinking that buying a bit that large would cost me more than the whole rest of the bumper. What do you guys reccomend for me?

Thanks guys! (and gals!)

spend the money on the bit, it will get used again.....

if you have acces to a 100 ton punch hit it with that else i think you should use a hole saw

U could always mark the hole locations, and take it to a machine shop and pay them to do it. Shouldn't cost any more that about $5 a hole, if not less.

Swing by the local community college and see what their metal shop can do for you. When I took welding classes at night at ours, I had a few people do just that. They would drive up and ask if I would be nice enough to punch a hole, run a quick bead, or plasma cut something, etc. A quick hole with the punch took me all of 30 seconds and I didn't mind helping out. Anyway, something to think about.

Take your time and stepdrill it up to 1/2", then then hit it with the torch and burn out the rest of the material.
Then clean up the flash with a die grinder.
Quick and dirty.:beer:

3/4 inch drill bit is not that expensive, just buy it.

Originally posted by nailhead
Take your time and stepdrill it up to 1/2", then then hit it with the torch and burn out the rest of the material.
Then clean up the flash with a die grinder.
Quick and dirty.:beer:

That is how I did mine, quick and dirty. Easy huh?:rasta:

I agree just buy the bit you can get one for about $40 and you will use it for other stuff.

Most rigging stores sell bolt on and weld on saddles for d-rings for cheap. Why spend the time to make one when they are less than a buck?

Originally posted by scwafish
Most rigging stores sell bolt on and weld on saddles for d-rings for cheap. Why spend the time to make one when they are less than a buck?

exactly! why would you waste your time making this? i think i paid about $8 for huge D-ring already in a block. all i had to do was weld it on.

i bought a Tool Shop 1" drill bit in january, it was about $12 or so, i have probably drilled 10 holes with it, in 1/2" to 1 1/2" steel and it is still going. and that is with a Milwaukee 1/2 hand drill. if you dont want to do that, just buy a hole saw, those things kick ass too. plus if any of the teeth ever get broken off, i just take it back to Menards and they give me a new one.

If you want to do it with D rings and you have a drill press, just hit any Copper State in the Valley and pick up a bit. I just bought a 3/4" high speed steel bit for under $20 there. A 1" couldn't be much more.

I would stay away from D rings personally. They're harder to rig IMO and less useful in recovery situations than a shackle. I've got two 15k rated shackles on the rear of my truck from ACE hardware that work killer. They're only like $15 too with the 3/4" cross pin. Hit any ACE and check out their special order catalog, they can get anything in there in 2 days usually. You can always take them off easily to help others that need a shackle or way to couple straps together. Or go around a tree for a winch point, etc. etc..

anyone know of a good rigging supply company with an online catalog that sells to the public? all the ones I found were business2business

I'd say go with the hole saw bit. From my experience they are faster (you're cutting less material) and cheaper ($4 for a 3/4" hole saw).

Check out second hand tool stores, I picked up a 3/4" bit, never used for $7.00 can't beat that price.

Harbor Freight sells a 8 piece set with 9/16 to 1" bits with 1/2" shanks for $17.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/00500-00599/00527.gif

HERE (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=527)

If you're not set on the D-ring thing..

One neat trick we've been using is instead of D-rings and such, get two piece of flat, or two pieces of angle (more weld area), drill a 5/8" hole in both ($20 bit..) and space 'em out on your bumper so you can use a 5/8" receiver hitch pin.

Stuff your 3" (or 4") strap between the two piece of angle, then slide the receiver pin through both sides of angle and the strap.

Secure, and easy.

On the front of my race Scout, they double as tow-bar mounting tabs, too. :D

Hay man; TRACTOR SUPPLY + 4 bucks complete.
just fawking get your ass off the computer
and take your dead ass to the store, tight ass

Originally posted by Ztec
anyone know of a good rigging supply company with an online catalog that sells to the public? all the ones I found were business2business These people have D-rings for cheap.....

Austin Hardware (http://www.austinhardware.com/) Course I use them because they are in town but still. Lots of cool widgets.

Just buy the complete rings with blocks. a lot less heart ache.:rolleyes: