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View Full Version : Drilling A Hole Through a Camshaft?

The Fixer
10-19-2006, 02:07 PM
I had a neat idea to build a lamp using an L98 camshaft as the post. Threading the socket into one end will be relatively easy, but any tips on how to drill a hole straight through it so I can run the wire? If you think I should just take it to a machine shop, anyone have a place in mind that can do it?

Thanks in advance guys!
WildBillyT
10-19-2006, 02:24 PM
Make sure you clear coat it, or it will rust. As for drilling a hole, that's a tough one.
BonzoHansen
10-19-2006, 02:29 PM
Could a machine shop do it?

A house on my way home from my old job had a crankshaft for a mail box post, and what appeared to be a Ford auto trans casing for a mail box.

Billy, you have to post pics of the brake drum man in your back yard.
WildBillyT
10-19-2006, 03:09 PM
Could a machine shop do it?

Billy, you have to post pics of the brake drum man in your back yard.

LOL yeah, I've got a pic somewhere. That dude is playing the saxophone, I'm going to add a guitar man this winter. It will probably end up being a 3 piece blues band...
HardcoreZ28
10-19-2006, 03:23 PM
Machine shop is your best bet as they should have the long bits and slow enough machine to not destroy it. You can try calling F&A machine in Middlesex.....Frank may help you out.
NJSPEEDER
10-19-2006, 03:30 PM
i had thought about that before too. never followed through on it though. i talked to a few machine shops and they seemed interested in the idea adn said it wouldn't be expensive to gun drill a cam.
Knipps
10-19-2006, 03:31 PM
A house on my way home from my old job had a crankshaft for a mail box post, and what appeared to be a Ford auto trans casing for a mail box.

x2.
sounds like an awesome idea
pics when its done are a must
Brando56894
10-19-2006, 05:58 PM
when i saw the title for this i was like "why would u ever wanna do that??"
Tru2Chevy
10-19-2006, 06:22 PM
when i saw the title for this i was like "why would u ever wanna do that??"

Less rotating mass ;)

- Justin
Brando56894
10-19-2006, 07:07 PM
hahahaha
Teds89IROC
10-19-2006, 09:21 PM
Very cool idea!
Savage_Messiah
10-20-2006, 07:17 AM
Less rotating mass ;)

- Justin
:shifty: :shifty: :shifty:
The Fixer
10-20-2006, 08:26 AM
Thanks for the advice guys. One member here is gonna try to mount a cam in his lathe. If it'll work, I'll cruise out there and do it on the weekend. Otherwise, I'll try some of the other recommended places.

My last custom lamp project turned out really well. Since I'm a music teacher, I figured a lamp made out of an instrument would look cool. We had a broken flute in the storage closet, so I straightened that out, polished it up, and mounted it on a nice piece of round pine that one of the woodshop kids cut for me. Total cost invested, $14 for the socket and lamp shade. :cool:
HardcoreZ28
10-20-2006, 10:09 AM
Good luck with it. I went to Race Rock down in Orlando when I was on Power Tour and they had all kinds of cool stuff made of car parts. One of my favorites was the bar stools made of crankshafts. Gonna try that one someday. I'm also going to build a table out of an engine once I move out.
Untamed
10-20-2006, 02:17 PM
If that doesnt work out Steve, send a PM / email to Calhoon (Anthony). His shop may be able to do it, but not sure.