rojomillar@shaw.ca Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 I have an old wheel that is still very good. But it doesn't have any holes for bat inserts. How would I go about getting this done???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 If your wheel head comes off a drill press is best-if not a drill will do the job. You layout the holes at 10 inch centers If I recall. Buy or borrow a batt to check this out. do the layout at least twice with a pencil so you get it right. This will require a center punch and a drill and a bit. I will measure my pins or someone here will state what size they are. If you are not handy working with metal have someone else do this job. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Bat pins are 1/4-20, so you'll need a 1/4 inch drill bit. Make sure to center punch before drilling so the bit doesn't drift. There's not a lot of room for error. If you do mess it up, just drill another set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 it is really important that this be done correctly. getting it exactly 10 inches on center means a great deal of accurate measurement. a machine shop can help if one is available. cost is nothing much compared to a lifetime of an offcenter bat whirling around driving you nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Center up a bat perfectly, then mark the holes. Do several bats to make sure you do't have an oddball. It'll work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 I have done this for the wheel heads at the university where I taught. As Neil says, line up the bat perfectly and use a punch. Keep the bit lubricated with mineral oil as you go. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia UK Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Just in case there are others reading this who are not in the U.S. - in the UK our batt pins are different. We have one in the centre and one offset. I'm away from home right now, so can't give you measurements, but approx 4/5" apart. I had pins added to my wheelhead by a friend who works in an engineering workshop - 10 minute job for him! Our batts often have a circular hole in the centre with the other one slightly elongated (oval) to provide some tolerance I assume. I hadn't realised the difference when I first had the wheelhead drilled for pins, with 10" centres, only to find that drilled batts here in the UK were as described above! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 I drilled a couple for my classroom wheels. As others have said, measure well. I made a paper template, based off a bat, and used the punch through that. I used a bit of homemade cutting oil on the bit, as I went. They all turned out great. Just make sure you get all the metal shavings, when you finish up. You wouldn't want those to get into your clay, for many reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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