Drilling stainless steel

[76nemo]

...the bong.

I hate these three letters, but,.....OMG!!! You talk about laugh!!!!! Thank gosh the kool-aid was already down:grin:

 

[celtic]

I hate these three letters, but,.....OMG!!! You talk about laugh!!!!! Thank gosh the kool-aid was already down:grin:

I do what I can my man

 

[76nemo]

Celtic, you are too much. I have to forward that one:wink:

 

[mattsilkwood]

i found something better than tap magic its about the consistency of honey. the stuff stays right on your bit so well you can drill upside down with it. i cant think of the name of it but ill post it after work, weve got some in the gang box.

 

[480sparky]

D*mn, need some help there Ken? Where's Dylan, Guthrie, Prine,.....................?

the Mamas and the Papas, the Diamonds, the Tempos, the Beach Boys, the Cowsills, the Crests, the 4 Seasons, the Byrds, the Platters, the Supremes, the Grass Roots, the OJs, the Rascals, the Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys, the Safaris, the Hollies, Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds, Rupert Holmes, Paul Anka, Pablo Cruise, Sammy Johns, Robert John, Englebert Humperdinck, Jackie DeShannon, Olivia Newton-John, Dan Hill, James Taylor, Shaun Cassidy, Peggy Lee, Don McLean, Fats Domino, Crispian St. Peters, Bobby Freeman, Peter Frampton, Gene Vincent, Little Richard, Bobby Darin, Sandy Nelson, Eddie Money, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffet, Jackson Browne, Oliver, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Rufus, Cannibal and the Headhunters , Joe South and The Believers, Blood Sweat and Tears, KC and the Sunshine Band, Booker T and the MGs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Exile, Chic, Sweet, Boston, Bread, America, Donovon, Commodores, Hot Chocolate, Paper Lace, Atlanta Rhythm Section, the Isley Brothers, the Edgar Winter Group, the DeFranco Family, the Brotherhood of Man, Blue Oyster Cult, Meat Loaf, Mott the Hoopie, WAR, Rhythm Heritage, Starland Vocal Band, Fleetwood Mac, Pacific Gas & Electric, Poco…..

 

[electricalperson]

Check out Children of Bodom - oops i did it again .....a bit heavier than Britney had in mind ~ not really a "video"....just the album cover of CoB and the cover tune.

BTW..CoB is a Finnish death metal band

that reminds me..one of the greatest shows ive ever seen was danzig. im an incredibly huge misfits fan and he sang all of his old stuff. one of the loudest shows ive ever seen and the pit was pretty fun too.

someone said something about drilling using WD-40 as lube. doesnt WD-40 smoke like crazy when used as a lube for a drill bit? ive seen people that drill metal all day use some pink paste that acts as a lube and it seems to work pretty well.

 

[mattsilkwood]

i found something better than tap magic its about the consistency of honey. the stuff stays right on your bit so well you can drill upside down with it. i cant think of the name of it but ill post it after work, weve got some in the gang box.

its norseman ultra lube

 

[celtic]

that reminds me..one of the greatest shows ive ever seen was danzig. im an incredibly huge misfits fan and he sang all of his old stuff. one of the loudest shows ive ever seen and the pit was pretty fun too.

Danzig is from NJ

someone said something about drilling using WD-40 as lube. doesnt WD-40 smoke like crazy when used as a lube for a drill bit?

Yup..it will smoke....but before that, you'll ( a generic "you'll) burn the bit up because now that you have WD-40 on it - it's good to go!
NOT

:smile:

 

[electricalperson]

i heard lenox cutting oil is good. i use rigid brand cutting oil when i thread conduit

 

[nolabama]

cobalt and very slow - use a plasma torch if you can

 

[electricalperson]

go easy when using taps too. without enough cutting oil they will break. dont try to twist it all in you need to go back and fourth and go deeper a little at a time

 

[electricalperson]

ive also made the stupid mistake of using those greenlee drill bit and tap in one i believe its DTAPKIT or something like that in thick metal. they dont really work too well in bigger pieces of metal and they snap like twigs when the threads grab when the bit its not poking out on the other side. better to use a hand tap than one on a drill

 

[jrannis]

ive also made the stupid mistake of using those greenlee drill bit and tap in one i believe its DTAPKIT or something like that in thick metal. they dont really work too well in bigger pieces of metal and they snap like twigs when the threads grab when the bit its not poking out on the other side. better to use a hand tap than one on a drill

Those drill taps are nice for Sheet metal. I dont think I would try them in something over 3/16"

 

[kevinkk]

I have had the pleasure of working with stainless on a regular basis

My method of choice is to use a small plasma cutter to quickly punch a hole just large enough to fit the stud of my punch.
The KO will remove the burn marks around the plasma cut hole.

This may seam like over kill but if you need a number of holes the math is simple
Plasma hole in about a second
Drilled hole a few minutes

I use a small 120 volt non pilot tip plasma cutter I got off eBay for $500
and a small tank of CO2 but a small air compressor works also

After the speed achieved using this method on Stainless I now use it to start holes in any metal when a number of holes are required

Death metal goes great with this especially if you factor in the welding goggles

 

[musthafa]

Does anyone have any advice or tips to make it easier to drill stainless? Sharp bits & lots of oil, I know - but it still kicks my butt sometimes.

Use a center punch to guide the bit.
Make a pilot hole of smaller diameter.
Use proper bit (like cobalt with split point).
Select proper drill speed.
Use hard backing surface beneath the area to be drilled.
Use good quality of cutting oil.
Raise the bit out of the hole frequently to avoid over heating.

 

[Fulthrotl]

I thought maybe there was a secret about drilling stainless that they never told me during my apprenticeship. I guess not.
I'll try the cobalt bits. Thats' something I haven't tried yet.
Thanks

if you are doing it freehand, i use a 1/2' hole shooter, and the
cobalt bits, 135 degree point is best, but a good quality bit has
a better lifespan.

the best lube ever made was the clear stuff by tapmatic, but i don't
believe it's available anymore, at least in calif. (CARB pollution regs)
it has the consistency and odor of lighter fluid, but not flammable.

as much pressure as you can bring to bear on the work, and the
slowest speed possible. ideally, you should be able to watch the
individual flukes on the bit go around and around. maybe 100 rpm.

if you've got a sharp bit, and the right speed and feed, you'll be
able to turn a perfect non burned shaving off each side of the bit,
and they will reach 6 or so inches before breaking. it's kind of cool
to watch. it'll also punch a 3/8" hole thru 1/2" 304 plate in a minute
and a half to two minutes.

if you spin it too fast, you'll gall the stainless, and they you are gonna
be there all day. once it work hardens, you may have to use a carbide
bit to get thru it.

good luck. leave the barry manilow at home. everyone knows the
best music to drill stainless by is dire straights, which is what you'll
be in if you gall that stainless.


randy

 

[LHarrington]

Good Morning,
Drill slow and use coca cola and a lubricant.

LHarrington

 

[quogueelectric]

When I have to use reg bits I flutter the drill trigger so the bit / holesaw only goes 1 revolution at the most and comes to a complete stop each time. The key is not to heat up the steel enough to harden it(That blue color) This will only slow the cutting process down and damage the bit. This process will drill ss fairly quickly.

 

[LarryFine]

Good Morning,
Drill slow and use coca cola and a lubricant.

"No Coke; Pepsi!"

 

[LarryFine]

This process will drill ss fairly quickly.

And wear out your trigger even faster.