Drilling cockades
- Thread starter Bobted
- Start date
Steve Nick
Well-known member
I think it would be relatively easy to do if you had a drill press and used a series of progressively larger diameter drill bits and a "nest" for the Kokarde secured so that the Kokarde didn't spin when being reamed.
I've obviously thought about it, but I couldn't bring myself to degrade an original artifact in the process.
I've obviously thought about it, but I couldn't bring myself to degrade an original artifact in the process.
Bobted
Well-known member
Interesting. real cockades are not cheap, and the new repos look like well new repos. Whereas these cheapish ones no one wants have the right patina and will be recycled for the good of the hobby. I might give it a go if I can get hold of a cheap one, I like your idea of a "nest" Rob
Bobted
Well-known member
This is what I need a hole punching machine
Attachments
ww1czechlegion
Well-known member
I had thought several times over the years about the possibility of doing this with a kokarde that has the much smaller, screw mounting hole.
Two things always stopped me from altering a kokarde with a small sized hole:
1.) The M91 side post sized hole on the kokarde has a flared or raised edge to the diameter of the circular hole. This could not be accomplished by simply "drilling" a larger hole in the kokarde to accommodate an M91 side post.
2.) I also thought about the possibility of chipping or significantly damaging the baked enamel paint on the kokarde, if a new larger size hole was made in the kokarde. I believe the original kokardes were painted and oven baked after the hole had previously been punched in each individual kokarde.
Best Wishes,
Alan
Two things always stopped me from altering a kokarde with a small sized hole:
1.) The M91 side post sized hole on the kokarde has a flared or raised edge to the diameter of the circular hole. This could not be accomplished by simply "drilling" a larger hole in the kokarde to accommodate an M91 side post.
2.) I also thought about the possibility of chipping or significantly damaging the baked enamel paint on the kokarde, if a new larger size hole was made in the kokarde. I believe the original kokardes were painted and oven baked after the hole had previously been punched in each individual kokarde.
Best Wishes,
Alan
Bobted
Well-known member
Good points but with a metal hydraulic hole punch it should be pretty clean. And I see there are some very cheap ones. The flange could be added later by poking a pointed piece of or metal bar in the hole and pushing till it flanges. I dont know . But with cockades costing more than a pickle sometimes you have to think outside of the box. Rob
Steve Nick
Well-known member
Alan:
Re. #1 - That would be a bit tricky. Perhaps use of a burnishing tool could create the small flange?
#2 - That's a real concern. Especially given that you'd have to do multiple reaming operations to get to the required diameter. I've never tried it.
A punch press could work, but it will cause distortion to the sunburst ribs. Do an internet search for “step drill”. They come in multiple size ranges and work well without catching like a conventional spiral drill bit does when it breaks through thin material. Regardless of how you enlarge the hole, to make it appear correct, you will need to flair the inner hole edge. I haven’t tried it, but a tube flairing tool set may work for this if you find one large enough. Or something similar where a male/female tool press feature is present.
Ron
Ron
I was just experimenting with this on a pair of repros for my current project. I couldn't get the proper lip turned up because the steel is so thin it kept bending and distorting the entire inner area, and it's very difficult to clamp in place without damaging the paint.
The small holes were not centered, and I tried starting with a step bit, but it kept catching the metal and was difficult to hold in place so I got frustrated and just snipped them out to a rough circle and then cleaned up the hole with a Dremel grinding bit. I went too far on the black one and had to try to even out the hole. Definitely not perfect but look ok when the strap is on, and was only my first attempt. Side benefit is that they fit great and don't fall off.
I have seen a few for sale that don't have an inner lip and were apparently modified. Here's one.
