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Subject Topic: Drilling sink to fit tap in TT Post Reply Post New Topic
Personiscacamper
05/9/2019 at 2:53pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
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I'm considering fitting a tap to the kitchen sink of our Cabanon trailer tent. The one thing holding me back is the thought of drilling a hole in the stainless sink to fit the tap! I've heard that drilling stainless steel can be difficult. Does anyone have experience of drilling a stainless trailer tent sink to fit a tap, and have any tips for success?

Thanks.


Personsaxo1
05/9/2019 at 3:07pm
 Location: None Entered
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The trick is to make sure your drill is very sharp,use oil to lubricate and cool the cut but most of all drill at a slow speed,if it gets hot it will work harden.
saxo1


Personiscacamper
05/9/2019 at 3:37pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
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Thanks for the tips saxo1.


Personmoppetsdad
05/9/2019 at 4:43pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
 Outfit:  A full biohazard su View moppetsdad's Profile View Profile   Reply to moppetsdad Reply   Quote moppetsdad Quote  
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I'll add that if you go too fast and it gets hot enough to work harden, you'll never get through it so go as slow as possible.

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


Persontango55
05/9/2019 at 8:23pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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To drill through stainless steel you need a tool that is harder than the material being cut therefore you will need a tungsten carbide cutting tool to achieve any success plus a cutting coolant such as suds (diluted cutting oil for lubrication) as cold water alone will cause the tool to jam up. As already mentioned, if you use a high speed steel tool, the stainless steel will turn blue around the edge which what happens is that the material is being tempered causing it to harden which if that happens you won't even be able to file it afterwards. That's why when they manufacture components from thin stainless steel, the best way is to punch the holes through with a harden punch and die as it leaves a clean cut without altering the material structure. However, stainlees can be cut by laser technology but that will leave a blue ring around the hole again making it excessively hard so it all depends on the cosmetic application the stainless is being used for.
Cutting stainless steel isn't a simple as you may think especially with domestic DIY tools that most people usually have in their collection of tools.


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Personiscacamper
05/9/2019 at 8:55pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
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Thanks tango55, to be honest I'm not sure my DIY skills are up to the job. I'm now thinking I might devise an alternative means of mounting a tap in a removable fashion rather than drilling the sink - currently I'm thinking of making a suction cup mount that can be attached to the edge of the sink and packed away when not in use. I'll report back if I come up with a solution that works! :-)


Personmoppetsdad
05/9/2019 at 9:04pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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Can you not mount a tap beyond the edge of the sink on the surround or doesn't it have one?

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


Persontango55
05/9/2019 at 9:08pm
 Location: Lichfield
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You can buy titanium plated drills which may do the job but they're not cheap for a set as shown in the link below. You could therefore mark the diameter of the hole then drill a series of holes around the inside of the circumference then file the rest of the hole to size. If you do attempt to do that then apply some masking tape to the surface first because stainless steel being hard, the drill will just skid off the surface. The masking tape will hold the drill on it's centre first so once the centre has being bored the drill will centralise at it cuts through. It's still advisable to cool the drill though during the cutting process.


Titanium Plated Drill Set


PersonLeeroy1982
05/9/2019 at 9:22pm
 Location: Bridgwater Somerset
 Outfit: outwell newgate 6 View Leeroy1982's Profile View Profile   Reply to Leeroy1982 Reply   Quote Leeroy1982 Quote  
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Look at getting a bosh bi-metal hole saw at the correct size, low speed on any drill and a bit of cutting paste or fluid will do the job. No need for a special drill or anything just a decent drill, with variable speed. A constant pressure applied will help. We drill stainless all day long in work, as we are a steel fabrication company. The stainless steel will be about 1mm thick as it’s light weight to save on weight.
If not pop to a local welding/ fabrication company with said trailer tent and I’m sure for a small price they will drill a hole for you and no hassle for you

-------------
May 2020 - tbc
7tth August -15th August 2020 trevornick Cornwall


PersonLeeroy1982
05/9/2019 at 9:23pm
 Location: Bridgwater Somerset
 Outfit: outwell newgate 6 View Leeroy1982's Profile View Profile   Reply to Leeroy1982 Reply   Quote Leeroy1982 Quote  
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Just read you are the n Devon, where about are you as I’m from Bridgwater Somerset if not today I will offer to drill it for you

-------------
May 2020 - tbc
7tth August -15th August 2020 trevornick Cornwall


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Personiscacamper
05/9/2019 at 9:41pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
Joined: 08/12/2004

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Thanks for the suggestions and for the kind offer, Leeroy1982. I will think it through a bit more (e.g. exactly where to fit the tap) before I commit to making any holes in my kitchen unit! :-) I am near Exeter, so if I decide to proceed I will seek out a local metalwork company for help.



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