One of the many tools you’re bound to find in anauto shop is a tube notcher. Mechanics use this awesome tool to create“fishmouth” notches in metal tubes. You’ll find these guys notching tubes forautomotive applications like racing and off-road chassis.
If you’re looking to notch tubes in your garage,you must do it right. Making the wrong notch costs time, money, effort, andresources. That’s why we came up with this handy guide in effectively using atubing notcher.
So, without further ado, let’s begin the notchingprocess.
Setting It Up
First things first; you need to prep your tubenotcher by doing the following:
- Inspect the drill press spindle’s up and down motion to confirm that no friction or binding occurs in the tubing notcher.
- Temporarily secure the tube for marking.
- Mark the intersecting points and the centerline of the tube. You’ll get a better result when your marks are accurate.
Get that Angle Just Right
Assuming you’re done with the prep work, the nextthing to do is to set the angle. Do this by:
- Slightly loosening the lock bolts
- Adjusting the tubing clamp to set it at the determined angle
- Tightening the bolts for the next step
It’s Notching Time
Once you’re all good with the angle of your tube,it’s time to notch. If you’re just starting out (and cutting non-steel tubes),take it slow by keeping your variable speed low. This lets you keep vibrationto a minimum and avoid the buildup of excess heat.
If you’re still getting the hang of your tubingnotcher, it’s best to do a couple of practice cuts on a scrap tube. After all,practice makes perfect. Once you’re ready for the real thing, go ahead andstart making your precision notches on your chosen material.
Important Operation Reminders(a.k.a. We Want You to be Safe While Notching)
Besides notching tubes the right way, it’s alsoimportant to stay safe while using a tube notcher. Since the equipment uses asaw bit that cuts through metal, it’s vital that you wear proper eye protection.This prevents any debris from hitting your eyes and blinding you in theprocess.
Apart from your eyes, you’ll also need to protectyour hands. Once the machine finishes notching the tube, the tube’s edges willbe extremely sharp. So, wear thick gloves to avoid injuring your hands.
Last, but not the least, be sure to keep any loosejewelry or clothing away from any moving part. Let’s not notch any othermaterial apart from the tube.
If you’re looking for excellent notching equipmentto obtain excellent results, get one of our Baileigh tube and pipe notchers fromJMC Equipment. OurTN-800 Tube and Pipe Notcher can notch one to three inchesof the tube’s outside diameter without modifying the tooling, mandrels, or holesaws.
Additionally, you won’t waste your material ontrial and error, thanks to the model’s decimal angle finder. This feature letsyou work your way up to the right notch angle to help you produce a better weldand a tighter fit.
Contact us todayfor more details.
