On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 22:42:32 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Bob Kuykendall" wrote
These days I use a single-point suicide cutter as others mention.

Thanks, and best regards to all

I haven't seen anyone mention the importance of being safe, with a fly
cutter.

If you have never used one, on something like a panel, clamp it down to the
drill press table, like you never have clamped anything before. Then double
the clamps.

I would suggest that the safety issue of clamping applies equally to
using hole saws as well as fly cutters. I once had a half inch drill
bit hang up in a 4" X 12" piece of soft Aluminum 1/4" thick. When I
looked around after getting that sucker stopped all you could see were
eyeballs peaking over the tops of the work benches out in the shop. At
the first "clang" every one dove for cover. Man, but it was quiet in
there! Nobody wanted to look as they were afraid of what they were
going to see.

I never knew a good 1/2" drill bit could spring that far without
bending or breaking.

Of course the fly cutter has the added danger of getting caught on
clothing or tender body parts.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com