Projects How am I going to cut holes in this sheet of stainless?

I want to see the dash!

 

I have done this trick many of time when band-sawing SS, I flip and old blade around so that the teeth are pointed up and crank up the speed and I cut thru 16ga without coolant. FRICTION CUTTING, fast and easy

 

You can do it with a good hole saw like the Milwaukee quick change carbide hole saw's.
Not those bi metal hole saws you get at the local hardware, they are a junk! You could also make a guide template from hardwood to make sure the saw did not wander. I got my Milwaukee hole saws from Fastenal.

 

I'm sure there's old-skool ways of dealing with this, but man, it's a really obvious waterjet application if you can find somebody or have access to one. The control and repeatability is unbeatable for punching holes in almost any flavor of sheet goods, and 22ga is thin enough that the slight keystoning won't matter.

 

If by chance you use a hole saw, try drilling a piece of plywood with the saw then clamping the wood over the steel... If'n you break through on one side, you won't mess up the work... Tends to be a neater hole also.

Karl

 

Brian..
Go online to summit..order a Blair holesaw kit.
It's the same company that makes the spot weld cutters.
Totally unlike conventional hole saws. Way closer to an end mill or annular cutter for mag drills.
Turn it slow...use lube..they will never wear out !
Water works well for stainless...I use yellow Elmer's glue thinned with water to cut stainless..something in the glue ( animal fats ??) really keeps the tools cool..plus the chips stick to the glue instead of flying all over the place..just wipe it clean with a wet rag..
Learned this trick from some old time boat repair guys down at our local (moss landing)harbor..
Dave