drop out question
 

This is in relation to me building a bike trailer. I've got my metal plate that I intend to make drop outs from and need to drill a hole and then turn it into a slot for my dropouts. I just measured my drop outs on my mt bike and it is 1cm wide. This is america and I seriously doubt I will be able to buy a 1 cm drill bit. 3/8 however is .95 cm's. A measley .5mm away. Should this work?
Thanks,
Scott

What is the diameter of the axle? If it is a track axle it probably won't fit as they are usually 1cm. A quick release axle is less and would fit.
Also I think you would be able to find one in a hardware store. You might have to call around to a few but I'm almost sure one has them.

Get a 25/64" drill bit if you can't find 10mm. It'll be close enough.

You should be able to find a 10mm bit at any hardware store.

Drill multiple-holes along where you want to the slot for the drop-out to occur. Then connect the holes with a jig-saw. Finish off with a lot of elbow grease using a file.

How are you attaching the trailer? To your rear-dropouts? Do you have a pivot for lateral rotation? How will you prevent vertical rotation of the hanger at the drop-out?

As it often happens, I answered my own question. Hitachi has the standard and metric dimensions and I ended up getting something 10.3mm. I wish I would have stuck with the 9.5mm as the axle is no where near 10mm. It should work just fine regardless.
Danno, I'm attaching it to my rack. I'm coppying a design by some sweedish guy... http://www.andersj.se/projekt_startsida.htm I'm loosely basing it off this idea.
Scott

Oops, the link goes to his entire site. Under the pics of the kayak paddles go to "Kajakhållare till cykel "
Scott

So you're attaching the trailer to the rear of the rack?

thats the idea. Basically imagine a rectangular frame with two front 26inch weels. It will tilt up at an angle to reach a peice of wood that extends about 4-6 inches off the back of the rack. A peice of webbing will extend off the trailer through the extension and attach to the seatpost/seat tube junction. At the rear end of the bottom of the rectangular frame will be the bottom of the trailer with a floor extending towards the front of the trailer and attach via a verical peice back up to the frame of the trailer. Most likely a plastic bin will keep my groceries tidy. Thats the basic idea, now I need to figure out how to make it work. I've never ended a project unssucefully yet.
Scott

I think the webbing can be a problem with wood. Why not all metal construction with a real pivot?