Hole Cutting Method
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"Here's a little hint for drilling holes in sheet metal or anywhere that large hole saws tend to "drift" away from the location you're trying to drill (like in a piece of sheet metal). For example, I recently installed a B&W brand turnover ball hitch in my pickup bed, and used this trick to make the hole-drilling easier.
"It's pretty important that you get the hole exactly in the right place or the underside attachment brackets won't line up. Although there's a 1/4-in. pilot hole in the center, the hole saw still wanted to move around. So I used a simple piece of 1/2-in. plywood to solve the problem. It needs to be large enough to stand on to keep it in place. I use the weight of my body, but you can clamp it down too, if you're able to.
"First, I drilled the size hole I needed in the plywood. This allowed me to see the metal through the hole. When you start to drill into the metal, the board acts as a guide for the drill bit, holding it perfectly in place.
"I also used this method to drill a hole in my rubber bed liner mat, which I installed in the truck box when I was finished installing the ball hitch.
"My brother Paul thought of this little hint. He reads FARM SHOW, so I have to give him the credit or I'll hear about it."
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Hole Cutting Method FARM SHOP Handy Hints 34-2-37 "Here's a little hint for drilling holes in sheet metal or anywhere that large hole saws tend to "drift" away from the location you're trying to drill (like in a piece of sheet metal). For example, I recently installed a B&W brand turnover ball hitch in my pickup bed, and used this trick to make the hole-drilling easier.
"It's pretty important that you get the hole exactly in the right place or the underside attachment brackets won't line up. Although there's a 1/4-in. pilot hole in the center, the hole saw still wanted to move around. So I used a simple piece of 1/2-in. plywood to solve the problem. It needs to be large enough to stand on to keep it in place. I use the weight of my body, but you can clamp it down too, if you're able to.
"First, I drilled the size hole I needed in the plywood. This allowed me to see the metal through the hole. When you start to drill into the metal, the board acts as a guide for the drill bit, holding it perfectly in place.
"I also used this method to drill a hole in my rubber bed liner mat, which I installed in the truck box when I was finished installing the ball hitch.
"My brother Paul thought of this little hint. He reads FARM SHOW, so I have to give him the credit or I'll hear about it."
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