Adding a cutting edge to front bucket

[Northeast_Mainiac]

Hi all, so I noticed some wear to the factory cutting edge on both sides of my bucket, so I found a 54” Kubota cutting edge at my local dealer, it’s a non reversible one for $175.,
So I decided to try and attempt drilling the holes myself with a mag drill I rented from a rental place , that was $45 and had to buy a speacial bit for it, $35 for the bit…
Well I made it 3/4 the way through and the bit broke. Looks like I’m going to find a machine shop….. nothing is ever easy

 

[cthomas]

You do not need a special drill or bit. Your cordless drill will work just fine, just start with a small drill bit, go slow, and use cutting oil. Then go to a bigger bit, I'm drilling 5/8 inch in 3/8 thick steel in the horizontal plane and I'm just using a m18 drill, yes looked at a magnetic drill but could not justify it for the 40ish holes I need.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

You do not need a special drill or bit. Your cordless drill will work just fine, just start with a small drill bit, go slow, and use cutting oil. Then go to a bigger bit, I'm drilling 5/8 inch in 3/8 thick steel in the horizontal plane and I'm just using a m18 drill, yes looked at a magnetic drill but could not justify it for the 40ish holes I need.

My drill is crap, and so are my drill bits, I’ll pay for someone else to do it, I have cutting oil but I think that material I have to drill through is hardened steel

 

[cthomas]

I drilled my bucket and it was not hardened steel. It drilled really easy.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

I drilled my bucket and it was not hardened steel. It drilled really easy.
[/QUOTE
I’ll give it a try again

 

[KKBL]

As cthomas said, start with a small bit and work up to the size you need.
Using good bits that are made for drilling steel (135 degree angle HHS), cutting oil, and a good drill motor - should not be a problem - cost of good drill bits and new power drill will be way less than paying someone else to do the work, and then you will also have them on hand for other projects when you need them.

 

[cthomas]

If you were closer I would give you my grandpa's old 110 volt drill works great except it has a small short and it will give you a shock intermittently. Now I know why it was on the top shelf in the very back. I guess I just didn't think that nobody doesn't own a drill, as I have about a dozen of 'em. Right angle, 3/4" drill, impact/cement, cordless, and even a old manual drill.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I have cutting oil but ...

But did you use it?

 

[cthomas]

I tried to use my nieces super-soaker gun with cutting oil in it, it didn't work like I thought it would.

 

[whitetiger]

So I decided to try and attempt drilling the holes myself

Are you trying to drill through the bucket or the cutting edge?

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

As cthomas said, start with a small bit and work up to the size you need.
Using good bits that are made for drilling steel (135 degree angle HHS), cutting oil, and a good drill motor - should not be a problem - cost of good drill bits and new power drill will be way less than paying someone else to do the work, and then you will also have them on hand for other projects when you need them.

Where would you recommend buying these said drill bits from please, not sure Home Depot sells these type of drill bits.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

But did you use it?

Yeah I over used it

 

[The Evil Twin]

I drilled through mine with a cordless drill and carbide drill bits from the big box store and 10w30 motor oil. Go slow and take your time. Maybe 1/3 speed on the drill. You could see long curly strands being cut off. If you go full speed, you'll overheat the bit and it won't cut.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

I drilled through mine with a cordless drill and carbide drill bits from the big box store and 10w30 motor oil. Go slow and take your time. Maybe 1/3 speed on the drill. You could see long curly strands being cut off. If you go full speed, you'll overheat the bit and it won't cut.

And I think this might be why one of the cutters broke on the mag drill bit, the mag drill has only one speed on this specific drill, wish I didn’t spend the $85 to rent it and buy the bit.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

When I made mine it attaches to the side of the bucket.

Honestly I used a Uni-bit for it and my cordless drill. It worked great. I can't remember exactly, but I think I got my Uni-bit at Horror Fright.

Like The Evil Twin suggested, go slow and use lube, you'll be fine.

Heres what a Uni-bit looks like.

And pics of where I had to drill my holes.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

When I made mine it attaches to the side of the bucket.

Honestly I used a Uni-bit for it and my cordless drill. It worked great. I can't remember exactly, but I think I got my Uni-bit at Horror Fright.

Like The Evil Twin suggested, go slow and use lube, you'll be fine.

Heres what a Uni-bit looks like.

View attachment 103213

Ty for the tip, I’m not going through the sides of my bucket, I’m going through the factory cutting edge and part of the bucket steel, I need to drill 7 holes and that stuff is hard or just seems harder than the sides

 

[The Evil Twin]

And I think this might be why one of the cutters broke on the mag drill bit, the mag drill has only one speed on this specific drill, wish I didn’t spend the $85 to rent it and buy the bit.

Yup, that'll do it. Heat and pressure make diamonds, not a hole in steel. Lol.
It's a learning experience, man. None of us knew all this stuff out of the box. We all had to take a lick here and there. Blood, sweat and throwing a tool or two along the way.

 

[The Evil Twin]

When I made mine it attaches to the side of the bucket.

Honestly I used a Uni-bit for it and my cordless drill. It worked great. I can't remember exactly, but I think I got my Uni-bit at Horror Fright.

Like The Evil Twin suggested, go slow and use lube, you'll be fine.

Heres what a Uni-bit looks like.

And pics of where I had to drill my holes.

View attachment 103213 View attachment 103214

View attachment 103215

I've used one of those bits before. Got an assortment. One thing to note is that they'll cut chips out, not strands. Just info for the OP.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I've used one of those bits before. Got an assortment. One thing to note is that they'll cut chips out, not strands. Just info for the OP.

Yea they are not perfect but good enough usually.

I tried one for the first time about 4 or 5 years ago when I had to drill a sh!t load of 5/8 holes to install my plow mount.

It worked great for that job.

The other down side is that because the "steps" are only about an 1/8" deep, you are kind of limited in that regard too.

Although getting you "close" to your desired hole diameter, it's good to go, then just finish it up with the proper size bit.

 

[Northeast_Mainiac]

Yup, that'll do it. Heat and pressure make diamonds, not a hole in steel. Lol.
It's a learning experience, man. None of us knew all this stuff out of the box. We all had to take a lick here and there. Blood, sweat and throwing a tool or two along the way.

And this is why I’m here, to learn from all the pros

When I made mine it attaches to the side of the bucket.

Honestly I used a Uni-bit for it and my cordless drill. It worked great. I can't remember exactly, but I think I got my Uni-bit at Horror Fright.

Like The Evil Twin suggested, go slow and use lube, you'll be fine.

Heres what a Uni-bit looks like.

And pics of where I had to drill my holes.

View attachment 103213 View attachment 103214

View attachment 103215

that bottom picture looks like a tooth bar from hell