Posted: 8/7/2004 6:50:38 AM EDT
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Random question........I don't have the equipment to do this, nor do I really want to spend the few hundred bucks to get it for what will be a one shot deal, so I'm wondering.... I have a piece of metal that I need to have drilled, but the hole being drilled needs to be done specifically to have a 1/4" NPT thread. Are there shops that can actually do this kind of job? I mean, it's kind of a specific job, and it's basically what amounts to maybe 10 minutes work, one piece for one person....would most machine shops deal in that kind of thing? |
I'm not sure about most other machine shops but the one I work in, if you were to bring something like that in and ask, my grandfather (the shop owner) would be happy to do it for you and most likely wouldn't charge you a thing. Actually, I'd probably be the one doing it... but I'd charge you $10.
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If it's for a part that isn't unreplaceable, ask your friends who has a small (8") drill press and a set of taps....1/4-20 should be drilled about 13/64 and then tapped....not a big deal for any shadetree mechanic. A machine shop will probably do it for you, but they have to charge a fair price for their labor...it'll co$t you to have a pro do it... |
| Not to confuse the issue but 1/4-20 is different from the 1/4 NPT (pipe thread), Still same proceedure. It shouldn't cost much. It would be under $100 even if you bought a Harbor Freight bench top drill press, a hammer, centerpunch, drill bit and tap and did it yourself. |
| You could rent a magnetic drill press and do it yourself. A 1/4NP tap will run you about ten bucks. Borrow a friend's drill index for boring the hole. I don't know the location of the tapped hole you need but we have frequently freehanded such with success. Planerench out. |
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Easy thing to do. I suggest you buy the tap and look around for someone to drill the hole for you. Surf the internet on how to drill and tap. Most machine shops have a minimum charge like a half hour or hourly rate. Plan on spending at least 50 bucks if you go to an actual machine shop. |