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Why No 1 7/8"

cannuck

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Nov 30, 2021
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Rural SK
I went to the shop last night to put a 1 1/2 NPT ****** between 2 electrical boxes to make one big one (lower to hold capacitors for RPC). The OD of 1 1/2 pipe (or EMT) is 1.9 inches, so to used conduit nuts I can safely drill (or punch) 1 7/8" to put thread into boxes. I don't have punches as for last many years I could just walk over to the electrical bay and use client's stuff, but this is a home shop job so thought I would use a hole saw (or worst case annual cutter). Much to my surprise, I have no 1 7/8 hole saw!!!! Top shelf of my drill and press shelving is where many dozens of hole saws live. Up to 2" is in rows at the ednge, and spares as well as stacks over 2" up to 4.5" are in sets of stacks where 1/4 increments allow stacking to give 1/8" overall. What shocked the heck out of me is that I had not only nothing of that size, but when I set those shelves up 40 years ago everything is labelled in minimum available increments....SKIPPING 1 7/8"!!! I can't believe I have had no need in my entire machining and fabricating life to cut this size.

Anyone else ever found such a gap in their tooling life??
 
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cannuck

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Nov 30, 2021
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Rural SK
Get a step drill. Yes they do come that big.
I bought the missing hole saw (Milwaukee). Can't stand to not have a full range of sizes of just about anything. Not sure why I didn't just off myself 40 years ago when I labelled the shelves with a gap between 1 3/4 and 2. Being to exclusive and careless I am obviously of no real use to anyone.
 
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no704

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Apr 27, 2016
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Should actually have punches for doing that kind of work.
 

gimpyrobb

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Feb 11, 2015
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216
Location
Cincinnati
I too have a bunch of hole saws. I needed a 40mm(one and 9/16), no way, don't have it! Had to order one from amazon...
 
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cannuck

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Nov 30, 2021
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I don't know or care what I do and don't have for hole saw sizes, but a 1-1/2" conduit knockout is 2".
I can't stand sloppy holes. The NPT thread allows a perfect fit into a stack of 2 conduit nuts - as long as one has freedom to keep them near ends of ******.
 
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