Drilling/welding Pre-cautions

See how there's no holes on the top part, but the side is full of nuts and bolts, the top is the flange, same as the bottom part.

 

Just a tip for drilling... use a masonry bit. They'll go through hardened steel better than any other bit.

 

My dad had a stock of tapered fluted bits that would take a 3/8 or 1/2 hole and open it up to 3/4 or 1" in short order and with minimal effort even with a hand drill. The mag drill press , good bits and cutting oil is where it's at today. Get a double frame chassis and shorten the wheel base and you'll definatley buy one.

 

The way I always drilled a frame , was use a small bit for a pilot hole, then a tapered reamer for the size I needed. I now have a mag drill and anywhere it can be used, I use the annular cutters instead of a bit and reamer.
I have always been told to never under any circumstances drill the flanges and never have, but my old freightliner has countless holes in the flanges that came from the factory. It started out life on the haul road as a 5 axle tractor hauling heavy, and since retired off the road has log gear in the winter swapping to side dump for dirt in the summer. So it has never had any sort of an easy life and never had a frame problem.

 

All I use for drilling holes in my frame are some M42 cobalt bits and a regular dill. They cut through like butter. But yes I also use cutting oil too.

 

Had to put my 5th wheel slider at the rear of the frame today. I used a 1/4 and 3/8 el cheapo bits and then a 5/8 reamer. Did 10 holes and all it takes is lots of pressure, low speed and some oil to keep the bits cool. The reamer cuts through like butter though. Best $65 I've ever spent.

 

generally no welding or drilling on the flange area of the frame (top and bottom) the sides of the frame are ok.

 

I have always heard no drilling on he flange and lived by it. I can sure see where it would give one a weak point to break, but my flc freightshaker came from the factory with holes all down the top flange. lol

 

See many factory spring shackle brackets and air bags with hole in lower flange but, I would never drill in the flange or lower or higher into the web than a factory bolt.

 

Guys I need advice . So at the shop today an apprentice drilled a hole in the top flange . My bad I went out for a few minutes came back and he was almost through is it fix able