Cutting saddles

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 07-26-2011 03:41

if you got access i would use a drill press with a same size hole saw bit

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 07-26-2011 03:42

In shop, or in field?

The best ones use an abrasive belt that goes around the proper size roller to make the saddle.

There are jigs that use a hole saw and are powered by a drill. The problem here is running the hole saw slow enough, and stainless will make short life on the hole saw, even at the proper speed.

I have used the hole saw and a Bridgeport mill, I made a 5/8" arbor from a 5/8-18 bolt and nut.

You could use a roughing endmill of the proper diameter [these have teeth on them] in a milling machine.

One of my friends made a jig that held the tube on the compound of a lathe, He put a roughing endmill in the chuck. This would work with a hole saw too.

By 99205

Date 07-26-2011 05:08

I've used this thing and it save me a ton of time on fit ups. Pricey, but it's built like a tank and portable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h7To3mG_7g

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 07-26-2011 05:40

That one is well made, and the difference is probably worth the extra cost.

By Chris2626 (***)

Date 07-26-2011 05:46

that things cool

By ssbn727 (*****)

Date 07-26-2011 16:13

I hope somebody tells that guy in the video that he should use side shields on his safety? glasses so that the hot metal chips generated while producing the notches don't land in his eyes. :roll:

Nice tool. :cool:

Respectfully,
Henry

By weldwade (***)

Date 07-26-2011 18:54

http://www.pro-tools.com/emn510.htm

A friend of mine has this one. It will eat chromoly like a bully beats up a wimpy kid!!!

By hillbilly delux (***)

Date 07-26-2011 21:20

Not sure if this is anymore cost efective or not but about five years ago I was doing some sanitary stainless work and I came across a precut stainless saddle for pipe that you just fused on the end then sanded the weld smooth. the perfect fit every time.

By Eric Carroll (**)

Date 07-27-2011 02:23

wagner sells the pre cut saddles for railing work. The notchmaster is nice (i have one) but if your not doing a ton of cuts the harbor freight one will work. You can always do the chop saw/band saw 30 deg trick, but if your tigging it leaves a big throat to fill and that mean more warping.

By hojopens3 (**)

Date 07-27-2011 18:19

i use my portaband and layout on 36 deg.

By yojimbo (***)

Date 07-28-2011 00:07

I am familiar with the Wagner saddles from sanitary stainless work- perfect precision- which is what I like in a saddle for handrail to reduce distortion. The video didn't really give a clear steady view of the saddle the notch master makes, kinda just flipped it by the camera. Just how good is the fit? Tight 100% all around? I find distortion in handrail really annoying and a major pain to fix for a good visual. The mechanical notchers like Lowbucks and the one I've got for the Scottsman are worthless for anything more cosmetic than fencing a field. Abrasive notchers really have my attention but pricey. There was a homemade abrasive 3 hp notcher on You tube looked to do a first class job I am interested in duplicating. Got a bid coming up for 2000 LF of 1 1/2" powdercoated handrail w/ about 600 notches in it might justify the cost if we get it. Has anyone ever used a mechanical notcher to rough the saddle and finished it on an abrasive? Wondering if this wouldn't save a lot of belt wear, or cause more problems because of burrs. The video notcher looked a little loose to me in the fit- anyone experience with the tool care to comment?

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 07-28-2011 03:46

The fit with any hole saw notcher depends on how true the hole saw runs, and if the cutting diameter of the holesaw is the exact same diameter as the tube. I don't know what tolerance hole saws are made to, but as they are seldom used where a precision hole is needed, they might vary some.

By Smooth Operator (***)

Date 07-30-2011 06:48

Use a Linders Abrasive Notcher for notching pipe on any angle except 90's. New in 1996 was about $3500.00, still going strong, belts are up to about $25.00/ea. For 90's we use a mechanical notcher from Heck Industries, have two sets in shop to notch 3/4" - 2" pipe. :cool: