This is one of those questions that, well I think I know the answer but what is the harm in running it by the experienced m***es here? I'm ready to set my deuce roadster body on the frame for first trial fit, but first I need to cut/punch the bolt holes in the frame webbing. I'm using webbing from Bob Drake that is a rubber material, 'bout an 1/8" thick. I'm planning to use a short length of steel pipe, grind sharp at one end and use as a punch. Anyone got a better way? Thanks-
You can purchase a "leatherworkers punch" which looks like a large pair of pliers with a rotateable wheel on one jaw with different sized punches on it, but that seems like a bit of overkill for a one time job. I made my own tool in about 15 minutes on a lathe, from mild steel. The tool is chucked into a 3/8" drill, the long "spike" end is pushed down thru the material into the existing bolt hole in the frame, and the sharp "cutting edge" will cut a 3/8" diameter circle out of the fabric. The model I show will be a "section view" to let you see what it looks like---in reality the tool is round.----Brian
I just did what you suggested - piece of whatever size tubing twirled around a little bit on the sander (wear gloves) then hit it with hammer - I use a plastic headed hammer to minimize damage to the tubing dj
Steel Coupes, here's a pic of trial fitting the nailhead: Hot rod 40...some heat, not a bad idea. Think I'll practice on some s**** material. Brian and Propwash, thanks! 1/2 Done, "gasket punches"....so there are such tools! Probably won't find at Sears, gonna check around on that. Thanks guys!
Yup. Gasket punches. I know McMaster has them but kind of spendy there. punch on a piece of hardwood or a s**** piece of delrin.
Here's some Chinese **** I found: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3838
If it's a one-time deal, I'd do the pipe thing before I'd buy HarborFreight. But that's me. Might be a good excuse to buy a whole set of punches though!
Looks like a fancy, goldchainer, version of a piece of pipe with a sharp edge ground on it. Gasket punch= $** Making a tool from a piece of s****= priceless!
The punch set from Harbor Fgt works great...considering the price... I've had mine for 2-3 yrs......used many times...just back up work with hardwood....or a soft lead....wont dull punch....
The hollow punch set is great to have for this and they are cheap to have around. Give us some more pic's of your project! Your frame and engine pic looks like a great foundation.
hollow punches are great to have , but before i bought my set i just took a piece of round tubing of the correct size and sharpened it
tubing is great but you still have to get the rubber out of the tube after cutting holes...I would use a piece of round rod after each hole just to help make it easy (as long as you don't hit it so hard as to mash the hole in the end of the tubing! The harbor freight ones work fine and have a cleaning hole on the side to make it easier to get out the stuff stuck in them. Oh yea...do it on a block of wood so you don't dull the sharp tip.
The pipe will do fine. This is a one shot deal where you are probably going to do a dozen holes so no need to buy the pro tool that will do a thousand cars. I do have a set similar to the Harbor Freight ones and have used them for over 30 years without an issue. You will have to punch out the plugs you cut out every once in a while though. And as Brewsir said, "do it on a block of wood" YOu will tear the cutter up if you don't.
If the punch kit is available like now then get it if not make the tool to get it done .. then buy it for future projects..
Guys, Thanks for the advice. I never need much of a reason for buying more tools but I am hot to drop body on for first time, so I'm going to sharpen myself up a pipe! Will of course be using a piece of hardwood underneath each punch. Vintagehotrods- I know we're all picture junkies here so I will post more. Probably should be a separate thread though, something original like "My first roadster project". Ya, I'll take a shot at that, but my humble project won't be as awesome as so many here.
I have used tubing and it works. I am going to buy some gasket punches in common sizes. Just saw FASTENAL has them in the new catalog I picked up.
I just done mine but I have the green cloth webbing, I used a copper 3/4 inch elbow, got it hot with the torch and burnt the circles in the webbing, no need for hitting if its hot enough, I used a pice of coat hanger to push the webbing out of the elbow as I went. Works good and its cheap.
Since when do "goldchainers" own anything but a hammer and a screwdriver? I've never been sorry for buying a quality tool as long as I'll use it more than once. But, like I said, if it's a one-time deal the pipe will work slick too.
we used to use old rifle shells of different caliber to punch hole in gasket material for the bolt holes.
Roadster pilot, Thanks for the input,it was mentioned earlier about using some heat. Even though my webbing is different material, gonna try this on some s**** pieces.
I have sharpened the ends of some otherwise worthless china sockets on a bench grinder and it worked ok. TopHat
Gasket punch's are probably the easiest, but Iv'e ground many a short piece of black iron pipe or steel tubing on a bench grinder or belt sander and punched holes in rubber or gasket matl, as said here, just punch holes on a block of wood, it works just fine.
I like to use the webbing which has the adhesive on one side so that it stays in place and doesn't run away from you when you are trying to get the body lined up and set in place.---Of course, that makes it a bit difficult to get a hardwood block under it to use a hole punch. I generally put a chalk mark on the side of the frame in line with all the holes, then stick on the adhesive backed "frame welting", then use the gizmo that I showed in an earlier post to push through the welting in line with the chalk marks. The pointed spike part pushes through the welting and through the bolt hole underneath---this keeps it from "wondering" when I give the electric drill a shot to cut out the plug of material. The fact that I don't have to hammer on it keeps it from getting dull.
Try a greenlee punch they cut holes in sheet metal so the webbing would be a snap. If you know an elctrician they usually have them to punch conduit holes.
I used a gasket punch for center hole3/8 and a ch***is punch (radio) for my body mounts. Used conveyor belt!!!!! ch***is punch gave me a nice round outside hole.(on car)
The Jalopy Journal
