I got so excited about the rock shift knob that on the way home I stopped by Home Depot and picked up a masonry drill and couple of supplies. It is now almost complete, waiting for the epoxy to cure, so let me show you the pictures I took along the way and maybe you will want to make one yourself
Supplies:
1. 5/8 Masonry drill bit
2. Epoxy
3. 5/16 threaded rod coupler (no metric M10x1.5 anywhere in sight)
4. M10x1.5mm tap
Step 1: Preparing the insert
It was time to fire up the good old mill. I did not have an 8.5mm drill so I used a 8.6mm drill. It is actually better to slightly oversize the hole for tapping but not the other way around. You will most likely break the tap if the hole is not at least what it is supposed to be.
Step 2: Tap it
Tapped the drilled piece using oil and reminding myself to back-up when it got tight.
Step 3: Drill the rock
This was one of the the hardest things I have ever drilled. I think only the Inconel 718 was harder. I first set it up under the mill and made a little water pool around the drill, but that did not work!
I ended up submerging the entire rock under water and using 3 different masonry bits gradually increasing the size.
Finally, I got a hole deep enough (1.100").
Step 3: Glue the insert
I mixed up some epoxy resin and poured into the opening, filling the hole approximately half way. Epoxy doesn't flow easily, that is why I did not first install the insert. Then, i rolled a piece of paper and stuck it through the insert to seal off the thread from epoxy.
Step 4: Cut the paper off, clean the threads with a drill and tap
The final step is when this thing is completely cured. I will have to cut off the paper, use a drill to clean the hole and run the tap to make sure the threads are good.
Step 5: Polish the rock?
Not sure about this step at all, I am thinking that I might either leave it the way it is, or spray it with clear coat paint. What do you guys think?
Cheers