Where to go punch and flare?
 

I have a piece of aluminum I'd like to get a 2.5" hole (punch and flare). Who would I call (business) here in Washington to get this done? Otherwise, I'll soon be purchasing a Mittler brothers hydraulic press w/punch and flare set for one hole:unibrow:

check outhttp://www.vansantent.com/sheet_meta...lare_tools.htm

seems pretty cool

Thanks Chris, I was looking at those earlier. Contemplating just buying the whole set?

Go to Ebay and enter DIMPLE DIES in all catagories. You will get tons of choices

Rad Rides sells them. I have a die and flare I would let you borrow if I can find it. i have not used them in a long time. Does it have to be 2.5? I think mine is 2.75 or 1.875 for the two I have.

Lenie,

How big is the part... Can it be shipped to Long Beach CA.

I could do it for you. My die set includes a 2.5" and can do up to .120 SS or 4130.

I'm blaming the $$ I spent on you since you posted that link. I'm pretty sure I said the words "that's cool" or "that will save some time" about 14 million times in the few mins it took me to spend all the money I could w/o the wife coming completely unglued. They got some really cool stuff.

Thanks Mike, appreciate the offer but I'd hate to damage someone else's tools. I'll probably just end up buying one but I do believe I will go with the 2 3/4 now.
Thanks again.

Brett, thanks but it's only one hole in a piece of aluminum .060" thick, if It were a mess of holes, I'd love to send you my business. Thanks again, great group of guys on this forum.:cheers:

Thanks everyone, it's was only one hole so I was trying to find a bus. around here to quickly punch it out w/o having to wait but I guess it just gives me a reason to go out and buy a set and learn to put them to use.:lateral:

Use a hole saw, debur the edges, place on a canvas bag of sand or a supported rubber mat, drop in a billiard ball and whack it with a mallet.

We use to do them with two different size sockets in a vice.

Place smaller socket on that side you want to go in and bigger socket the side that is coming out.

Choose socket size so that the smaller will go inside the bigger easily.

Now I had CNC made evolution II dimples, my own desing, they are now getting heattreaded, will get them back next week. They have build in hole punch in every size. Made set of 10 sizes, from 1/2"-3"

Anyone wanna see them?

Sure post up some pics.

Tim Bruning has a set of the Mitler Bros. Its a bit far to drive for one hole.
However it would save you $$.

Exactly....

Assuming you own a pool table. Anyone own a pool table I can use:rofl: :P

Lenie, I have 2 1/4 if that will work..in olympia or I can show you how we do it with a holesaw and a router...Trav

Thanks for the offer but I've always wanted a set of these and went ahead and ordered one. I like all the different ways to go about doing this people have come up with. Would be interesting to see the router trick.