[Shop-talk] step drilling holes

eric at megageek.com eric at megageek.com
Fri Aug 12 03:43:26 MDT 2016




Sent from my Commodore 64 on a 2400 Baud Modem.
Eric P
"Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph Waldo Emerson 

-----"Shop-talk" <shop-talk-bounces at autox.team.net> wrote: -----To: "shop-talk" <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
From: "john niolon" 
Sent by: "Shop-talk" 
Date: 08/11/2016 23:07
Subject: [Shop-talk] step drilling holes
One trick I learned was to start with a spotting center drill. Something like these...
https://www.amazon.com/Atoplee-Industrial-Premium-Combined-Countersink/dp/B00M3TEF4I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470994860&sr=8-2&keywords=spotting+center++drill

Once that small center hole is in the metal, normal drill bits work much better.

Also, there are hole saws for metal that are great to use for 1" + hole sizes to prevent having to drill the same hole 3 times with increasing sizes.


John asks...



had to drill some one inch holes (several) in 1/2” plate.  Using a 
drill press so that helps... I wouldn’t try a 1” hole with a hand drill ! Didn’t 
really think a hole saw was the right way so I just stepped up starting with a 
3/8” bit then up to 3/4. then up to 1”... Worked fine.. lots of oil, took my 
time... but while I was bored (pardon the pun) I was thinking about the best 
steps to use...   when drilling large diameter in thick steel is there 
an accepted increment you should use ??  1/4” increments ??  1/8” 
??      job is done but I was never taught this I just 
kinda used what I thought would work.   Suggestions ??
 
thanks
John




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