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[Debs.]

I`m doing a bit of 'heavy' metalwork fabrication and needed some holes punching through 15 mm. thick hardened steel plate: 2 x holes each at 1½" and 1¾" diameters.

I went to a local welding/fab. shop (where I note, they appeared to have little-or-no work underway) and they wanted £10 per hole and a £60. set-up fee; on a 1 week 'turn around' (Gulp!) ....I thanked them for their time but (honestly) said that`d be far-too expensive for me at the moment.

So, purely on the off-chance, I tried a large engineering business in a nearby industrial estate; where they do civil steelwork projects.
I made myself known to the head-machinist and explained I`m a hobby metalworker and described what I`m making and then he called down the chief (from the carpeted bit) and they said it`d be no-problem at all to punch out the 4 holes while I waited. (total cost of £5.)

Their punch press was so large, they said they`d have to hunt about to find punch and die sets small enough for my job.

Wonderful to watch such a BIG machine at work....to see the British "yes we can" attitude is still about and also to have the job-done for such a bargain price: as they say these days "I`ve had a result"

[STMO999]

When I spotted this thread I was rather hoping for something different. Never mind.

Glad you got your hole sorted Debs.

[Debs.]

When I spotted this thread I was rather hoping for something different. Never mind.

Glad you got your hole sorted Debs.

  Indeed.....thanks Steve.....I think.

[Jimbob]

glad you got it sorted in the proper way 

[TheBoy]

There are some good people out there.

Now next time you need something, perhaps a bit larger, doing that you can't do yourself, which firm are you going to use?

[Debs.]

There are some good people out there.

Now next time you need something, perhaps a bit larger, doing that you can't do yourself, which firm are you going to use?

Absolutely no-doubt; `kindness and goodwill are long remembered (and appreciated) here at Deb`s towers.

[HolyCount]

There are some good people out there.

Now next time you need something, perhaps a bit larger, doing that you can't do yourself, which firm are you going to use?

Absolutely no-doubt; `kindness and goodwill are long remembered (and appreciated) here at Deb`s towers.

A concept apparently beyond many companies these days  :-/

[Kevin Wood]

When I spotted this thread I was rather hoping for something different. Never mind.

Glad you got your hole sorted Debs.

Oh, you mean the Kate Bush album?

Kevin

[Dishevelled Den]

Have been thinking about it and consider this important post deserves more comment than my rather flippant replies earlier. (now deleted)

Debs first experience is of course all too common - a result of the consumer driven society we now inhabit - you get nothin' for nothin'.

A sad reflection on how this once great country nurtured the essential element of success, the willingness to tutor and to help others and how that has been thrust aside for this unpleasant and unhelpful trait of only doing something when it suits and is thought to be of financial benefit.

It would be a much more reasonable world if, as in Debs' second example, others would simply say 'yes, why not?'

It should be a no-brainer, as they say.

[amigov6]

 ;DIf i did'nt know better Debs i'd swear your surname was Dibnah!!!

[Jimbob]

Dare we ask what you are making?

[waspy]

Dare we ask what you are making?

Yes Debs, do tell :-?

[STMO999]

Wales' first space shot? :-/

[Debs.]

Dare we ask what you are making?

A humungous, hydraulic (tractor powered)  semi-automated log splitter; 7 tonnes worth of yearly maul-swinging, chopping logs for the Debs` woodburner; will be no-more!

Very much a work in progress, but here`s a couple of (pre-welding) pics below.....

Dry fit (before having the 15 mm. thick side-plates punched through):


Exploded dry fit (fixed end of ram):

[Jimbob]

sod logs, that bugger looks like it ill fell the whole tree for ya!