I need to make a 62mm diameter round hole in a 5mm thick stainless steel plate (304 grade).

Are holesaws generally up to this kind of thing, or should I just drill a hole in the centre and saw it out using a jig saw with a metal cutting blade?


In General Technical because it's for a plate for a downpipe

 

plasma cutter maybe?

 

haven't got one of them, and don't know anyone with one either, unfortunately, as it sounds like the perfect solution

Would a router be suitable with a proper bit, or how about a die grinder?

 

Use a quality bimetal hole saw such as
Bi Metal Hole Saw Sizes 32mm to 62mm (1-1/4" to 2-3/8") | The M. K. Morse Company
with a good quality arbor and drill, fitted to a pillar drill set to a reasonably slow speed, around 180 to 220rpm, with cutting lube and applying a moderate pressure, pausing every now and then to let the teeth cool, should see you thru. Debur and finish with a half round second cut hand file.

If still unsure take it to your local engineering workshop, shouldn't take them long, about 20 minutes.

Used to work as an engineer in a dairy. Routinely cutting holes in 316. Think 304 is similar but not sure.

Good luck



Edit

Just looked up 304 and found that it is the most common austenitic st.st for machining. The only real difference to 316 is that the latter has higher corrosion resistance for the food and chemical/nuclear industries, so you shouldn't have any problem at all.

 

brilliant, that's put my mind at ease a bit

Will give it a go in the weekend

 

As above, the key with 304/316 is to keep the speed down and the lube on the cutting surface.

If you neglect either of these points your hole-saw will be cactus in no time.....

 

all stainless work hardnes ie the more you drill it the harder it goes (not a pun)use a pedistal drill and some lube eg wd40 or simlar cut hole in one dont pilot cuttin s/s is a bummer with out the right gear have fun an wear safety specs hot swarfh in eye huets like f****

 

Don't drill too fast, the last thing you want to do is get the SS hot. If it gets too hot it will go blue and harden. If that happens you will have no chance cutting through it.

 

WD40 is of no use, you need to use rocol proper cutting compound or similar.

 

Indeed and a slow speed as has already been said.

 

Milling machine would be best. slow cutting speed slow feed rate and plenty of coolant. 5 min job.

 

Keep telling my boss there's no such thing
Takes that long to clean up after you're done

 

Try to make sure all my little homeis are done in my break and still have time for a smoke and a cuppa

 

yellow pages+ laser cutting!!

stainless is a bitch to work with

 

It never fails to amuse (anger) me when work colleagues ask you to do something for them whilst trotting out the age-old classic: "It'll only take you 5 mins..."

...Yeah 5 mins for THEM to SAY it... But a hell of a lot more time for ME to DO it!