Drilling brass

[Roger HulettParticipant @rogerhulett83124]

I have a piece of brass 10mm thick. It is shaped into a figure 8. Each circular part of the figure 8 is recessed to a depth of 7mm. The diameter of the top circle is 27mm with the bottom circle at 44mm.. The overall length of the figure 8 is 78mm. Obviously between the two recesses is a neck of 7mm. (10mm thick).

I need to drill a hole through the neck to connect both recesses.

Any suggestions will be most welcome.

[Roger HulettParticipant @rogerhulett83124]

Drilling brass

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Can you drill in from the smaller end and through the neck then plug the end with a piece of brass? Depends how much it will show.

Does the linking hole have to be at right angles, if not tilt the work slightly so you can get a drill into the neck area.

Edited By JasonB on 28/06/2018 12:09:43

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Cut, angle grind, mill, slit (or whatever) a slot from the rear and then fill the slot but leaving the hole? Just a variation on JB’s suggestion.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

If you can find someone who can do EDM on it a cranked electrode would work.

You could also make a plug Ø7 and 10mm long with a hole drilled in it as required then drill through the plate and fit the plug in position. Loctite, solder or braze as required and clean up.

Martin C

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Stand the piece upright in the drill press vice and drill a hole down through the top of the 27mm circle, across teh empty area of the recess and then down through the neck in the middle. Then plug the hole in the top section with a bit of brass rod etc.

[Roger HulettParticipant @rogerhulett83124]

Drilling down from the small end appears to be the way to go. My only concern is that the hole is to allow petrol to flow from one side to the other. Knowing how petrol seems to find the tiniest of holes I am concerned that a plug would have to be incredibly accurate to prevent seepage.Would Loctite prevent this ? Thankyou all.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

If the hole is just a passage to carry petrol could you drill in halfway from a slight angle in each part so that the two holes meet?

Brian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This is a pretty confident recommendation for Loctite 242

 

[quote] I went through the gasoline-compatible sealant issue recently (looking to seal threaded joints in newly created fuel delivery system; not stock). Here's what I found:

 

Loctite 242 (blue) is a very common thread-lock (medium strength) and thread-sealant that will not deteriorate when constantly exposed to several types of gasoline (leaded, unleaded, etc., aviation). Same applies to 242 and Ethanol (common gasoline additive in US).

 

Loctite makes several gasoline-proof sealants, but the above 242 is the readily available blue stuff for thread locking. [ … ]

 

Rich Boyd

[/quote]

 

 

 

MichaelG.

.

 

Edit: deleted broken hyperlink to technical datasheet

 

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/06/2018 17:56:22

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Source of the quotation in my previous post: **LINK**

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-archive-f16/petrol-proof-sealant-t13891.html

and here's a working link to a useful TDS

https://www.carltonbates.com/static/catalog/products/images/PDF/LOCTITE_242-EN.pdf

 

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 28/06/2018 18:05:21

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Brian G on 28/06/2018 17:17:42:

If the hole is just a passage to carry petrol could you drill in halfway from a slight angle in each part so that the two holes meet?

Brian

Jason's method was the best option but that was before the purpose of the holes was explained.

Brian's suggestion now seems the most appropriate and TBH discussions about plugs and sealant are pointless (in relation to this thread).

As the hole is just to connect the two chambers there is no special reason it even needs to be a round hole so it could be created with depressions cut from both with say a rotary burr.

Ian P

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

How about a woodruff key cutter and make a slot from each side, a homemade one would easily tackle brass.

Mike

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ian P on 28/06/2018 20:13:25:

… and TBH discussions about plugs and sealant are pointless (in relation to this thread).

.

Thanks for including the comment in parentheses, Ian

MichaelG.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 28/06/2018 20:29:49:

Posted by Ian P on 28/06/2018 20:13:25:

… and TBH discussions about plugs and sealant are pointless (in relation to this thread).

.

Thanks for including the comment in parentheses, Ian

MichaelG.

I think we're on the same wavelength Michael but as it happens Loctite was suggested before the hole purpose was mentioned.

Ian P_

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ian P on 28/06/2018 20:56:14:

I think we're on the same wavelength Michael but as it happens Loctite was suggested before the hole purpose was mentioned.

.

Just for clarity : My notes about Loctite 242 were specifically in response to Roger's question, posed at 16:29:04

MichaelG.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Silver solder the plug in place if you are bothered about the fuel affecting things but as it is just a passage my second option which is basically the same as Brian's would do.

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