If you have any questions, input, tips or tricks or horror stories about notching tube. The good, the bad and the ugly, here is the place for it.

Hole saw notchers......good or bad?
Best hole saw?
Abrasive notching vs. end mill style notching?
How many notches do you get from an abrasive belt?
Notching with a chop saw?
Best way, worst way to notch tube?
Software to help with tricky notch angles?
Lubrication?

Home made notchers, lets see em!

 

I have been the type to notch with a torch in the past and just clean up with a grinder .

While this works for every once in a while it is time consuming if one starts to see more of this work come my way.

While I really don`t mind investing in a good quality tool that makes me money . I also have times when I am to poor to pay attention

 

bump, cause i wanna see too.

 

Let's get this thread crackin......

Check this cope calculator.

http://www.metalgeek.com/static/cope.pcgi

 

"V" block vises are nice........correct. But the are very limited.
Here are some pictures of what we can do with the TN-250 radial vise. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

 

Wearing my t-shirt out tonight!

 

It will probably bag you a babe.

 

so why no notching input.... i mean i dont have any homeade tools to offer and my abilities for notching downright suck,, hence while ill probably pony up and pay for an exo cage... but ya

 

Anybody using toilet paper rolls for notch templates?

 

We've just used the V type knotcher. I guess for serious precision that radial you got there would be tits but V clamp gets it close enough, i love how forgiving metal is =)

Id want that if i was doing work on 'customer rigs'. =)

 

And from here we go where? Gonna need some software for some of these cuts.

Baileigh, you guys make some very nice stuff. Top quality stuff!

 

Thanks!

 

Did some test notches today for you guys......

 

Quit playing Shane and get to work!

 

The cool thing is that I am working.

 

That's impressive - always had a hard time with those low angle notches like that using the JD2 notcher.

The Rigid hole saws from Home Depot are the best bang for the buck out there IMHO.

 

I notch with a hole saw chucked up in my Sharp manual mill. That combined with angle blocks and a solid vise, preferably a Kurt, performs really well. A little cutting oil and proper feed and speed provide excellent results. Unfortunately I don't have any pics of the set up for ya... But I think I am in love with yours!

My results

 

is there a way to fit that radial vise on my tn-800 notcher so I can hold on to the tube in the middle of bend like shown on the other notcher?

By the way......the tn-800 is the awesome!!!!

 

Nothing yet, stay tuned though

 

im too broke to afford a bender or a notcher. i have done my front and rear bumpers with just a portable band saw, a grinder and a bench grinder. check out my pictures they turned out great. of course for metal/fab/off road shops those tools are a necessity but im sure you all have been there at one time too lol. this is more of the poor boy way haha