Square hole

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

Think I've asked this before, but how the hell do I drill a square hole?

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

There are drill systems to do this..but…
How deep?
Blind?
How big?
If not blind..drill corners..drill center then broach…
Or rota broach

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Do a Google / You tube for square hole drills, loads on there but if possible have a look to see if you can use something with a square in it already like a socket and adapt that. Not always possible I know.

Can also be done with a rotary broach, some articles in MEW on that also You tube video's.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Rota broach is how ( well one way) that hex holes etc can be put in the end of bolts…forging is also used but…

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

That must have been a VERY loooooong drive you have been on . Like Jason said, or, a round drill and a file.

Cheers Derek.

[Anonymous]

Use a square drill!

No, seriously, you can drill a square hole, or any other regular polygon. You actually use a triangular drill and a square guide plate with a special chuck that allows the drill to float. See this link:

**LINK**

Mind you they're pretty expensive, so the more common method is to drill a round hole and broach, slot or file it square.

Andrew

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Wolfie

HERE is the principle. — however, although there are chucks/bits to do this it's unlikely that it will be economical to do at home.Drilling a round hole and using a broach of some sort is possible. HERE is another idea .

Norman

[Michael Cox 1Participant @michaelcox1]

Hi Wolfie,

Rotary broaching is the best way for short holes and the equipment is not so difficult to make see:http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/rotary-broaching.html

Mike

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

here is where you asked it before, same old answers, also several other threads if you search

 

 

Edited By JasonB on 14/05/2014 07:19:28

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

Unless you are going to make a habit of needing square holes, the way to do it is to drill a round hole and then file out the corners. A round hole already has 80% of the material removed. (OK, 78.54…..) Of course, this is not so convenient if it is not a through hole but even for that you can drill a round hole, make up and harden a kind of square punch, and drive it in to take out the corners. This will not make it square all the way down but it will not usually matter if there is a bit at the bottom that is not square. For that matter, the square drilling approach does not actually give a true square, the corners will be rounded. A broach will give a true square hole, but again only on a through hole.

Unless you are getting into mass production, the answer to most things that can't be machined with the machines you have is going to be a hacksaw, a file or two, and a scraper. Maybe a few good cold chisels too. And some patience

John

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