@cranki-valli.bsky.social If I want to be able to punch or cut a 1” diameter hole in canning lids, what’s the safest tool to use? Tyvm for your advice. - ThreadSky

demetersgarden.bsky.social • 41 days ago

@cranki-valli.bsky.social

If I want to be able to punch or cut a 1” diameter hole in canning lids, what’s the safest tool to use?

Tyvm for your advice.

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turmoel.bsky.social•41 days ago

What you need is called a knockout punch. You’ll want a step drill to make the hole that the screw goes through to draw the two halves of the die together.

You could maybe do the entire 1” hole with a step drill, but that’s going to be a lot of torque and it will be difficult to hold.

demetersgarden.bsky.social•41 days ago

I considered if a bench mounted manual press would work and I’m not having much luck with that search.

I don’t want to spend too much, it’s for my hydroponic garden hobby.

turmoel.bsky.social•41 days ago

That would be the alternative, if you’re doing a lot of parts. With all the cheap arbor presses on Amazon, it could be a good choice together with a punch and die set.

turmoel.bsky.social•40 days ago

I’ve been going down this rabbit hole for a while. Tbh I’d call sales at Cleveland Punch & Die on Tuesday, and ask what die set to use for what thickness of steel. They’ll be able to tell you how many tons of arbor press you’ll need. I’d probably go this route for more than like 10-20 holes, tbh.

turmoel.bsky.social•40 days ago

(Plus, arbor presses are very handy tools, if you do a lot of diy and have the space. You can do all manner of small/thin sheet metal bending, stamping, and forming with printed tooling.)

demetersgarden.bsky.social•40 days ago

I have stamping experts at work. I can ask them about it. Thank you for the idea spark!

It is for many items as I’m a hobbyist however I want to grow as much indoors as I can outside so I’ll need many “planters”.

turmoel.bsky.social•40 days ago

Oh nice.

cranki-valli.bsky.social•40 days ago

Also you can usually find a good drill press cheap on marketplace

cranki-valli.bsky.social•40 days ago

I'd probably use a hole saw or if it needs to be clean I'd scribe it with an awl until it can be punched out

zacster911.bsky.social•41 days ago

The safest tool to punch a 1" diameter hole in canning lids is a drill with a metal drill bit slightly smaller than 1 inch in diameter; ensure you clamp the lid securely and use safety glasses to protect your eyes from potential metal shards

demetersgarden.bsky.social•41 days ago

Gonna have to get creative on how to clamp and center that hole. I don’t have a fancy workbench.

zacster911.bsky.social•41 days ago

Got a neighbor/friend that works in his garage a lot?

demetersgarden.bsky.social•41 days ago

Not really? I am thinking of having a mold made 3D printing as the jig for holding the lids. I’ve got a nice drill with plenty of power and there are apparatuses that turn drills into drill presses. That might be my safest method.

zacster911.bsky.social•41 days ago

Good idea

bcinap.bsky.social•40 days ago

I'd go with a drill and 1 inch bit. 1 inch if it doesn't have time be a perfect 1 inch. Or this pictured would work too

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