Re: cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 19:00:51 -0000
From: colin.heath4 <colin.heath4@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff (fwd)

hi there,
            the trouble is that the sphere is formed which probarbly work
hardened the stainless a great deal.
although cutting any stainless steel at more than a couple of hundred rpm
will workharden it anyway and it wont cut.
the trick is to cut very slow! and lots of cutting fluid. i have cut 10mm
thick st/st plate with a hss holesaw! just went very slow and loads of lube.
when i finished the saw was only warm.excuse me if im telling you all how to
suck eggs. its just i work with this stuff everyday and thought a bit of
advice might help a few people out.
cheers
colin heath
----- Original Message -----
From: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 3:05 AM
Subject: cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff (fwd)


> Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 17:11:33 -0800
> From: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: cutting holes in gazing balls Re: Van de Graaff
>
> You can get small diamond cutoff wheels fairly cheaply and put them into
> something like an angle grinder. Holding the sphere while you do all this
is
> going to be a pain.
>
> Find someone with a plasma cutter, which cuts stainless like the
proverbial
> butter.  A small oxy-acetylene rig like you use for silver soldering might
> get the metal soft enough to ruin the hardening, so you can cut it.
>
> I would call around to auto body or custom motorcycle places and find some
> skilled metalworker.  They'll have the tools, and the jigs, and the skills
> needed.  They can probably even bend in the edge in a nice re-entrant
curve
> to reduce corona with a hammer and dolly. They could probably also TIG
weld
> a mounting stud inside (although JB Weld might work just as well).  At
least
> they'll be good at keeping the surface finish looking good.
>
> Those balls are nice.. real smooth polished surface, etc.
>
> That's what we need.. some off-shore manufacturer to decide that toroidal
> and oblate objects with holes in them is the hot and fashionable thing to
> have in your garden.  Maybe gazing balls as planters?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 4:54 PM
> Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
>
>
> > Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:20:41 -0700
> > From: Terrell Fritz <terrellfone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
> >
> > Hi Ed,
> >
> > It is rock hard stainless steel, Probably need a grinder like a cut-off
> > wheel in a dremal tool or die grinder.  Forget a hole saw unless it has
> > cobalt alloy teeth no normal saw or drill bit will touch it.  Once cut,
a
> > belt sander can finish the edge.  I'll probably try it all an a little
> > cheap one first.  If I were really desperate, I would have it waterjet
> cut.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> >          Terry
> >
> >
> > At 10:07 PM 12/30/2003, you wrote:
> > >Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > >Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 14:29:54 EST
> > >From: Esondrmn@xxxxxxx
> > >To: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
> > >Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
> > >
> > >In a message dated 12/27/03 2:05:27 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> > >hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > Many thanks for everyone's thoughts!!
> > > >
> > > > I will go ahead and build the thing.  It sounds just about right
> safety
> > > > wise.  Not a toy by any means, but not like a case of dynamite
either.
> > > >
> > > > It sounds just about right :-))
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > >
> > > >     Terry
> > > >
> > >
> > >Terry,
> > >
> > >What is your top load (sphere) made of and how do you plan to cut the
> hole to
> > >mount it?  I have a similar sized stainless steel (gazing ball) sphere
> but I
> > >have thought how difficult it would be to use a hole saw to cut a 3" or
> 4"
> > >hole in it.  Heck, it is difficult just to drill a hole in one of these
> > >things.
> > >
> > >How about a belt?  What do you plan to use?
> > >
> > >Ed Sonderman
> >
> >
>
>