Small Bore Drilling (Tone Channels)
Our CNC's are in storage and not accessible. We are waiting on concrete for the shop to be installed so that we can move them. We are HOPING to be back up and running in June, but at the rate things are going, its anyone's guess. Could be May, could be next January... Talk about frustrating!
Not getting a good clean tone channel in your acrylic kegs? Bubbles? Scratches? Crazing? We can help!
We have developed a tried and true method of drilling small deep holes in acrylic that are super clean with little visible tooling marks. It is a fairly intensive process using special drill bits and an out of the ordinary process but the payoff is worth it! Due to the expense of the drill bits used contact us if you require a bore other than those listed below.
Pricing is based on the depth of the bore (length of cut) and the bit used (some diameter bits are more expensive than others and all bits have a limited lifespan as compared to standard drill bits). Generally one can expect to be in the $3.00 - $4.00 range per part.
Requirements for the drilling process:
- Kegs must have an accurate and straight keg shank (tenon) otherwise we can not guarantee the bore will be centered.
- The keg shank (tenon) must be a standard fractional diameter to allow fitting to the collets used to hold the keg for drilling (ex ½”, 9/16, 5/8”, 11/16” etc.), no more than .010” undersize or .001” oversize, and the tenon not be tapered more than .005".Special sizes can be accomodated but may incur an additional charge
Current Available Drill Sizes:
.2187" (7/32" - This size costs more due to the need for higher pressure)
.228" (#1 Wire size)
.234" (approximate fractional size 15/64")
.2500" (1/4")
.2611" (limited availability - contact us if you require this size)
If you require a size not listed above, contact us and we will see if we can aquire the appropriate drill to fit your needs.
If you are unable to produce accurate keg shanks, we can either drill your blank to your specified depth or we can make pre-drilled blanks with the keg shank already turned for you. (see Keg Blanks) Generally, add $2.00 - $4.00 per part for having raw Cast Acrylic Rod cut into blanks and the tenon turned (customer supplied material). Prices may vary depending on length of tenon.