Thanks for taking interest in my project @Gary350
Broke two more drill-bits today—one regular and one titanium coated. Tip of the titanium one broke off when I tried to FIX the hole in which the regular one snapped in half — I guess I learned not to do that again ... presumably, it’s better to treat that kind of hole as a lost cause — I could feel the irregularities in the hole edges that the first bit had made while going bonkers and breaking off, it really should be no surprise that the 2nd drill bit couldn’t overcome them. (my giant case of multiple types of drill bits is stocked with about 4 of this size for each type — that should have told me something right there.)
Originally sought tek screws for securing these aluminum channels (bottom-left photo) which is used with “wiggle wire” to hold the plastic film on the hoophouse — not so hard to get through the channels and not especially hard if mounting on 1/2” or 3/4” pvc, but need pilot holes for 1-1/2” and 2” pipes — but not too difficult. Also using tek screws for brace bands, etc. and stabilizing connecting fixtures.
It’s when mounting to 1/2” emt and chain link fence top rails as well as line posts that the pilot holes and tek screws become more difficult to handle. Also have been needing to drill holes for carriage bolts — which requires pilot holes drilled through, followed by a 5/16” bit.
I have been told slow is normal and actually desirable when drilling into metal, and my use of a drop of oil was approved. I did get the auto-punch and magnetic hex driver bit this morning which has improved and eliminated the tedious extra steps and dropped screws. (I also got hinges for the door and window, as well as polyurethane for the wood elements. Yay.
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BUT BRRRR!!! It was WAY too cold and windy today — more like winter weather — so I couldn’t do a whole lot, though I did secure one end of the purlin and the hoops onto the 1/2" emt shoulder rail on one side. Original plan was to mount the wiggle wire tracks on the two end wall cross beams, but I realized I couldn’t do that without stabilizing the roof hoops first..... I thought I was going to secure the hoops AND mount the wiggle wire channel on the end cross beams as well as BOTH the shoulder rails TODAY....
I even had hopes of starting on the doorframe after that, though I knew THAT was a long shot.
(BTW — I’m calling these "TEK screws" because that’s what was recommended for mounting the aluminum channels, and this box of screws was what they sold me at True Value hardware store when I asked for TEK screws and showed pictures of what I was using them for.)