help with a wood burner.

[munkiboi182]

Hi guys,

I'm currently working on making a wood burning stove from an old gas bottle in my free time but I've hit a snag. I need to make a hole in one end of the bottle approx 2 1/2 inches in diameter. I'll be welding the chimney over this hole.

My question is this......
How do I cut the hole?
I have most metal working tools available, (except a 2 1/2 inch metal hole saw) grinders,dremels drills, etc

Just can't get my usually creative head around it

Cheers

Munki

 

[Zingmo]

I got a mate to burn a hole with his gas axe - very messy but quick.
If you're going to cut the collar off then you could use a jigsaw with a hacksaw blade - that's how I cut the hole for the door.

Z

 

[Ogri the trog]

Chain drilling!

Mark the circle (possibly a little smaller than you intend the finished size) and then drill a series of smaller holes following the line, use a rat-tail file to join a few up, then get a hacksaw blade in there to hack out the rest - finish up with a broader half round file or rotary file!

Ogri the trog

 

[wingstoo]

Or buy a new hole saw, drill a series of small holes, Get a tank cutter with adjustable cutting blade.

 

[munkiboi182]

Cheers guys. Chain drilling would be the logical option as it doesn't need to be neat and tidy. I got too fixated on making a perfectly circular hole. I used a 9 inch grinder to cut the door out and chop out a few extra unwanted bits. It sounds like some of u guys have done these before so any tips/advice would be gratefully received

 

[demographic]

I used an Oxy cutter but a grinder will do.
Small grinding disc gives a better cut in this case cos it ends up being like a 50 pence piece. Bigger grinding disc makes the flats longer if you see what I mean.

 

[tom.moran]

shame your not close, id use the plasma cutter at work on it

 

[SJStuart]

Sounds weird, but I've cut this kind of thing with a Dremel using the "flexishaft" thing for more precision.