Any advice on drilling hard (stainless steel) metal?
ie: Should I use oil or water either to lube or cool the bit?
I’m drilling a 9/64 hole and getting nowhere. I just went a bouhgt a new bit Cobalt / Titanium and don’t want to break it. I was using a handheld drill. Shoul I use my drill press instead?
Advice would be appreciated!
Also, high speed? or lower speed?
Dick
Key proposals for the next edition of the International Residential Code tackle room sizes, stair specs, emergency egress, and deck guards, among other requirements.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
metal rated brad point bits..
wax lubicant..
slow speed..
steady nonfluctuating pressure..
punch...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
i once saw a plumber use a cheap hole saw to put a hole in a stainless sink. he put a healthy glob of elmers glue (can't remember if it was wood glue or not) on the end of the hole saw and then proceeded at a slow speed. don't know if that would work for you or not.
Lots of pressure.
You can't go too slow, but can definitly go too fast.
SSTL isn't so much hard, as it is tough. Work hardens super fast. You have to make sure your cutting, not grinding a hole.
H
I've had good luck drilling SS using ordinary HS Steel bits in a drill press using thread cutting lubricant (which is just what happened to be close by when I drilled the first hole). Slow speed, lots of pressure, so you get a nice, curley SS ribbon off the drill.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Because of the work hardening property of SS, you have to get thru it in one pass. Stop, and the hardened surface makes it much harder to start cutting again.
-- J.S.
There are several coatings based on cobalt and titanium designed for drilling stainless steel, and they are a great improvement over standard high speed steel bits. You should be pleased with the improvement.
Definitely use a drill press. It will go much better if you do.
Use a lubricant. There are specific lubricants for specific metals because the chemistry is different, but for low volume work most any oil will do.
You don't need anything special...just drill slow and easy with constant pressure. I trigger my drill (stop and go slowly) instead of running at a steady pace, seems to cool the bit a little. No sweat.
There are a couple of pointers, sever of which have been suggested already.
The geometry -shape- of the tool matters. Drills ought to have 135 degree 'split points,' rather than the all- purpose 118 degree point. How to tell? Looking at the end of the bit, it will suggest a bow tie, rather than the letter "S". For larger holes, a 'rotary broach' is far better than an ordinary hole saw.
To drill anything, you need provide two things; the bit must be pushed into the work (feed), and the cutting edge must move (speed). Every material has its' own best feed and speed. In the case of stainless steel, LOTS of pressure, with a SLOW speed is critical. A drill press if preferred for this reason.
How to tell if you're bit is spinning too fast? Look at the chips; if they turn black, you're going too fast.
Using a cutting fluid -oil, wax, whatever- is a big help. The oil helps chips be carried away, and also carries away heat. Heat is the killer of cutting edges.
I'll simply add to use a nice sharp bit, whichever version fits your fancy. I typically like to drill a 1/8" pilot hole regardless of the type of metal since it allows the larger bit to cut with much less pressure.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.