DRILLING A HOLE IN STEEL POT FOR BALL VALVE

[Aleman]

How do you apply the lubricant

A small child armed with a squeezy bottle of water makes a great lubricant pump. While you can get fancy cutting fluids water is more than adequate to cool the area being worked to prevent work hardening or Glazing of the Cutting Surface. . . .For pilot drill bits the eBay seller UKDrills is the place to go for very well priced Cobalt Drills

 

[cannon]

Will a 20.4 q max cutter do for mounting a 1/2 ball valve,i had read about poeple using 20mm for a engineering fit,20.4 and the 21.But all on this topic are saying 21mm,do i need to up grade before i use the 20.4 cutter that i have just bought.

Also do you need 2 colbalt drill bits ie 2-3mm then a 10mm bit,or can you just use a 10mm bit to make the pilot hole before using the cutter. :?

Cheers C.

 

[keith1664]

You need to make a smaller (3-4mm) pilot hole before enlarging it to 10mm.

 

[periolus]

Stupid question coming up!

If I am fitting a ball valve to a SS pot with no tap, and I don't want to use a tank connector, do I just need:

15 mm ball valve
1/2" nipple (female to female)?
Some kind of joint (compression?) to join the nipple to the valve on the outside
Conduit locking nut on the inside
And a washer for the inside?

There was a thread somewhere - or even a recent reply to me - that showed everything that would be needed!

Is that it?

 

[cannon]

Cheers Keith,what about the q max cutter size,do i need to change the 20.4 for the 21mm.

Cheers C.

 

[keith1664]

I used 21mm but if the fitting goes into a 20.4mm hole then why bother changing it?

 

[periolus]

Yeah a 21mm q max will cut a 21mm hole you'll need a 10mm hole in the pot for the Allen bolt to go through to use the cutter

Hi! Does it have to be a 10mm hole, or would a 9mm hole do - the key is 8mm. I only ask because I have been offered a 9mm cobalt drill bit for free!

 

[keith1664]

Try it, if you then need to buy a 10mm drill what've you lost?

 

[periolus]

Nothing apart from time, I guess :thumb: You are indeed wise and patient! I need to think more long-term about the build, I just want it to be built ASAP, which causes problems.

 

[periolus]

How do you apply the lubricant

A small child armed with a squeezy bottle of water makes a great lubricant pump. While you can get fancy cutting fluids water is more than adequate to cool the area being worked to prevent work hardening or Glazing of the Cutting Surface. . . .For pilot drill bits the eBay seller UKDrills is the place to go for very well priced Cobalt Drills

I am impressed with your ability, in seven consecutive words, to achieve the separate phrases "Apply the lubricant", "A small child", and "Armed"! :rofl:

A Jedi talent indeed!