How to Make a Hexagonal Hole in Metal
Intro: How to Make a Hexagonal Hole in Metal
STEP 1:
In this instructable, I will show you how to make a hexagonal shaped hole in metal. The reason I'm making this is because their is little information on this topic. This is not a very costly method. I hope you enjoy.
STEP 2: Tools
You will need:
- Drill bits of the size of hex you want to make
- Allen key of the size hex you want
- Bench grinder
-Bench vise or some sort of shop or arbor press
- length of pipe If you're using a bench vise(for leverage)
- various sockets to use as a spacer
- drill or drill press
- Drill bits of the size of hex you want to make
- Allen key of the size hex you want
- Bench grinder
-Bench vise or some sort of shop or arbor press
- length of pipe If you're using a bench vise(for leverage)
- various sockets to use as a spacer
- drill or drill press
STEP 3:
First you are going to drill your holes. I recommend using layout fluid and a scribe to locate where you are going to drill. I used a center drill and a mill to accurately drill my holes. A drill press will work too. Tip: I recommend using a drill but that is a little smaller than the size hex you want. You can use the exact size, but a smaller drill will leave a sharper hex shape
STEP 4: Making the Tool
This is the key to making a hex shaped hole. You need to get an Allen key that is the size of the hex you need. You then cut it down to about 2-3 inches. You then need to put a taper on one end. You do this by using a bench grinder. You grind on each flat of the hex, try to keep it as even as possible. You then need to add rings around the whole tool. You can do this by using the side of the grinding wheel
STEP 5:
You now lay up various sockets to support the work piece in the vise. You then put the part and the tool in the vise and add a little pressure. You can tweak the straightness Of it with a hammer(lightly). Put on eye protection!!! I am not responsible if you hurt yourself doing the upcoming step. Be careful. You now tighten the vise. You'll probably want to use a pipe for leverage. Tighten until the tool is all the way through the part.
STEP 6:
When the tool is all the way through, take it out of the vise, and beat the tool out of the hole with a hammer. You can then repeat this process on the other side to make it sharper. After you're done, you'll want to debur the hole. You can use an angle grinder with a flap disk to do this.
STEP 7:
You may want to clean the hole up with some small files. And now you have a hexagonal shaped hole in metal!! The part in this instructable is 3/16 steel. The tool is a 3/8 Allen key. I hope this helped. Feel free to like and comment. I would also appreciate it if you checked out my Instagram account too. Don't forget to vote, thanks.
24 Comments
Queti 4 years ago
lime3D 9 years ago
What is the purpose of cutting the ring/grooves? Once the tool is past the taper, and onto the hex, isn't that far enough into the work piece to create the hex hole?
wallace birdvandamgonehard 6 years ago
donttrustthepig 9 years ago
donttrustthepig 9 years ago
buck2217 8 years ago
I think he is inferring that you stole his idea!
buck2217 8 years ago
could use to make a handy bike multi tool, how about hardening and tempering it - it's easy enough to do
Blackcloud161 8 years ago
Love your YouTube Channel AvE
ImNotKeegan 9 years ago
joreknight 9 years ago
I think the tool you've maked is called a broach, and the process of creating the hex hole (or any other shape) is called broaching.
donttrustthepig 9 years ago
DavAnt 9 years ago
bricabracwizard 9 years ago
This is so cool! And I've learned something new, I've never heard of layout fluid...that'll be on my shopping list! Thanks!
donttrustthepig 9 years ago
michaelv1 9 years ago
How does this tool hold up to the torsion of turning out bolts and nuts? I feel like mild steel would round off pretty quickly.
donttrustthepig 9 years ago
M3G 9 years ago
Genius!
FrankenPC. 9 years ago
Nice. In a pinch it's good to know how one could go about doing this. This reminds me that I need to get going on my homemade EDM machine.
dmwatkins 9 years ago
dmwatkins 9 years ago