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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    135

    Default advice sought - drilling stainless steel mixing bowl

    G'Day,

    I'm looking at making up a small "laundry trough" for the shed - for washing out brushes, etc.

    I can buy one "new" for around $100, but they use those fancy strainer plug systems.. and given this will sit in the sun most of its life, I'm not sure this is best. - example - https://www.bunnings.com.au/mondella...-sink_p5090441

    so here I am tossing up between making one from concrete, or modifying a suitable deep ikea stainless steel mixing bowl to take a traditional plug set.

    so if I modify the bowl, I would need to drill/ cut a circular hole of around 55- 65mm in the bottom - my past experience with cutting stainless steel isn't pleasant, so what would be the reccomendation regarding doing this?

    the tools I have is drill press, electric pistol drill, and an assortment of HSS hole saws (bordo) - is it a case of slow with tonnes of trefolex?

    is there another way to get a weather proof "basin" with a small profile, and capable of sitting out in the sun for many years? - I'm shying away from surplus handbasins due to the fibreglass failing, and the extra openings which I will not use since the water supply is a garden tap set about 1000mm above the ground - this basin will be set around 600mm above ground.

    the concrete option is based on a 10L food bucket as the internal mold, and the concrete walls having mesh in them. The plug set would simply be cast into the bottom of the tub by glueing it to the bottom og the bucket before setting up the pour. All options are based on me putting a small stand under the basin since the height is too high for a comercial laundry tub.

    thanks,
    Des

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    What will kill your holesaws is heat, so rather than trefolex, a stream of coolant (or even water) to keep things cool is best. You need a firm backing behind the hole to be cut so the material can not push away from the saw. Stainless will work harden, so as soon as the cutter rubs, it will harden up. Agressive feed is preferable to timid.

    Michael

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Wimmera
    Posts
    96

    Default

    What is wrong with an old sink? Just cut the outer draining section off if you want, or just use as is.
    Tip shop or Garage sales would be the place to look.
    $83 to wash paint brushes in. Nup.

    Hooroo.

    John

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    Those fancy strainer systems usually just pull off and leave a standard set of holes underneath.
    If you want to you can unscrew the whole fitting and then you can fit a strainer less setup.

    I started out with no strainer on my laundry trough sink but got sick and tired of unscrewing the S bend to rescue stuff (ie small paint brushes) than had fallen into the trap so I put the basic strainer back. Sure I have to reach in and scoop out scummy stuff sometimes but it sure beats unscrewing the trap.

    If you want to save a few $ I have a spare kitchen sink on my driveway that my missus is giving me the dagger eyes about and you can have that.
    Stainless drip tray would come in handy for me but I can not fit it in my shed.

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