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cutting holes in the firewall

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rv10(at)sinkrate.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

I am wondeing what methods people used to cut holes in their firewall.  I’ve seen some pretty bunged up holes and some real clean ones.  I’m interested in knowing how to make “clean ones” in case that wasn’t clear.  I doubt a unibit cuts them very cleanly and I imagine the stainless toasts them quickly.  Are there punches that work better and where did people buy them if so?  Harbor Freight has a cheap set but I don’t know if it works on stainless very well.  I need to punch the holes for the battery cable and the throttle/prop/mixture.  

   

Ben Westfall  

#40579  

PDX  

   

   

   

       [quote][b]

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msausen

Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 559
Location: Appleton, WI USA

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

Actually the type of stainless in our firewalls isn’t too bad to drill.  I use regular drill bits and step bits in mine without a problem.  Only way you are going to get extremely clean holes are with lots of patience, a punch tool like used for panels, or a CNC machine.  I think you will find the normal methods to be just fine though.  

   

Michael  

       

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ben Westfall

 Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 3:25 PM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: cutting holes in the firewall  

  

  

   

I am wondeing what methods people used to cut holes in their firewall.  I’ve seen some pretty bunged up holes and some real clean ones.  I’m interested in knowing how to make “clean ones” in case that wasn’t clear.  I doubt a unibit cuts them very cleanly and I imagine the stainless toasts them quickly.  Are there punches that work better and where did people buy them if so?  Harbor Freight has a cheap set but I don’t know if it works on stainless very well.  I need to punch the holes for the battery cable and the throttle/prop/mixture.  

   

Ben Westfall  

#40579  

PDX  

   

   

    	  Quote: 	
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davelammers(at)mchsi.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

Ben,

 The set from HF works great on the FW SS.  I used it on mine.  Made two nice holes.

 Dave Lammers

 Forever Finishing.

 

 Ben Westfall wrote: [quote]                   

I am wondeing what methods people used to cut holes in their firewall.  I’ve seen some pretty bunged up holes and some real clean ones.  I’m interested in knowing how to make “clean ones” in case that wasn’t clear.  I doubt a unibit cuts them very cleanly and I imagine the stainless toasts them quickly.  Are there punches that work better and where did people buy them if so?  Harbor Freight has a cheap set but I don’t know if it works on stainless very well.  I need to punch the holes for the battery cable and the throttle/prop/mixture.   

    

Ben Westfall   

#40579   

PDX   

    

    

    

    	  Quote: 	
		  

	
 [b]

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Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2881

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

My unibit holes weren't all I wanted them to be.  I think greenlee

punches would be great for the job.  If I were doing it again I'd

check out the harbor freight punches and at least give that a shot

first.  But, a unibit will do OK if you're willing to do some heavy

deburring.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

Ben Westfall wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I am wondeing what methods people used to cut holes in their firewall. 

  I’ve seen some pretty bunged up holes and some real clean ones.  I’m 

 interested in knowing how to make “clean ones” in case that wasn’t 

 clear.  I doubt a unibit cuts them very cleanly and I imagine the 

 stainless toasts them quickly.  Are there punches that work better and 

 where did people buy them if so?  Harbor Freight has a cheap set but I 

 don’t know if it works on stainless very well.  I need to punch the 

 holes for the battery cable and the throttle/prop/mixture.

 

  

 

 Ben Westfall

 

 #40579

 

 PDX

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rnewman(at)tcwtech.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

I have greenlee punches and some high quality uni-bits,   I found that hands 

down the uni-bit was the way to go.    With the punches, at the very end of 

pulling the punch through the metal the slug would get bound up between the 

punch and the die.     With the uni-bits I found the secret to success was 

drilling a little at a time from both sides.    This would keep the burr 

from getting very big,  the result was very clean accurate holes.



-Bob Newman

TCW Technologies

www.tcwtech.com

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Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2881

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:25 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

I think you're definitely right there about drilling from both

sides. My holes were good other than that big burr.  But, my

major mistake was letting 2 unibit holes touch....once they

hit eachother, it was all down hill from there.  I had to

cut out the area and rivet in a stainless patch with fresh

holes drilled in it.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

Bob-tcw wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I have greenlee punches and some high quality uni-bits,   I found that 

 hands down the uni-bit was the way to go.    With the punches, at the 

 very end of pulling the punch through the metal the slug would get bound 

 up between the punch and the die.     With the uni-bits I found the 

 secret to success was drilling a little at a time from both sides.    

 This would keep the burr from getting very big,  the result was very 

 clean accurate holes.

 

 -Bob Newman

 TCW Technologies

 www.tcwtech.com

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AV8ORJWC

Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 1149
Location: Aurora, Oregon "Home of VANS"

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

Ben, I have the Harbor Freight punches (which you are welcome to borrow) and found them inferior on aluminum.  At work, we use a hydraulic punch which I might be able to borrow.  

   

the unibit and possibly multiple are the best bet for 10 builders.  Sharing the size and locations with future builders would allow them to use other techniques before the wall is installed.  

   

John Cox  

#40600  

PDX - UAO  

       

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ben Westfall

 Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 1:25 PM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: cutting holes in the firewall  

  

  

   

I am wondeing what methods people used to cut holes in their firewall.  I’ve seen some pretty bunged up holes and some real clean ones.  I’m interested in knowing how to make “clean ones” in case that wasn’t clear.  I doubt a unibit cuts them very cleanly and I imagine the stainless toasts them quickly.  Are there punches that work better and where did people buy them if so?  Harbor Freight has a cheap set but I don’t know if it works on stainless very well.  I need to punch the holes for the battery cable and the throttle/prop/mixture.  

   

Ben Westfall  

#40579  

PDX  

   

   

   [quote]  [/b][/b][/b][/b]http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List[/b]http://forums.matronics.com[/b]http://www.matronics.com/contribution [b]

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ricksked(at)embarqmail.co
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: cutting holes in the firewall

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