Stainless cabinet cutouts ?

[kwired]

High speed is hard on bits in mild steel, but in stainless it is even worse. Low speed, and fair amount of pressure. You can vary the speed until you find that sweet spot that seems to remove more material, it will be at a fairly low rpm. Cutting oil works, but the best cutting fluids I been around for stainless are more wax or gel like in nature. Pilot holes and KO punches are best for holes that you have the size of punch needed.

 

[Jraef]

For cutting holes in stainless steel, a jigsaw isn’t the best tool. it will wear out quickly. Try using a hole saw with a carbide or bi-metal blade for clean, round cuts. If you are cutting larger or straight openings, angle grinder with a diamond wheel can work, but you might need to clean up the edges afterward.

Grrr… reminded me of 30 years ago when my partner’s idiot son in law was working for us and was tasked with cutting a hole in a SS box for a display. He took it upon himself to borrow my favorite jigsaw to do it and he pushed so hard once he dulled the blade that he burned out the motor on my saw. He was supposed to buy me a replacement, never happened. I forgot all about that until just now, and I have looked for that saw several times in the past 30 years without remembering that’s what happened to it! I guess I shouldn’t expect him to live up to that now huh?