How do you drill through 3/16 steel?

[enkeivette]

Without a drill press. And how long would it take you? And how many pieces could you get through before the drill bit was dull?

[Shaolin Crane]

Dimple the metal, use one size smaller and they will be junk when finished.

[enkeivette]

How long would it take you?

[Damian]

The best way to do it is start out small and work your way up. Good metal bits will go a long ways and take your time or you will destroy the bits. WD-40 helps too.

[enkeivette]

Thats what I would have said this morning. But how long would it take you guys? 20mins?

[enkeivette]

What if I told you guys I could do it in about 60 second, no predrilled holes, no wd40, and the drill bit will last indefinitely long. No evidence of dulling after doing 10 pieces.

[Shaolin Crane]

What if I told you guys I could do it in about 60 second, no predrilled holes, no wd40, and the drill bit will last indefinitely long. No evidence of dulling after doing 10 pieces.

I have some very expensive drill bits that will do it too, however I don't like to use them. The tool makes all the difference.

[Vettezuki]

There are a lot of parameters there dude? What kind of steel? What kind of bit? How big of a hole? If we're talking mild steel and your average metal bit, WITH CUTTING OIL, working from a dimple, up in size to something not too huge 20 minutes per hole wouldn't surprise me at all and no you wouldn't get a whole lot of holes before the bits started to dull. In any case, use cutting oil!

[enkeivette]

I've never seen a drill bit that can do that, and that fast. Not even the carbide ones.

I'll see if I can post a video later.

[Damian]

Id love to see a drill bi do it that fast. The size of the hole makes a huge difference too. Good stepper bits work great, never tried them on anything too strong though.

[Vettezuki]

I've done this before. But to be fair it was a large Milwaukee corded drill from the olden days that you could lean on almost completely. It was years ago so I may be under estimating the time, but I kind of don't fuck around when I know what I want.

What you're getting out of a drill press is a powerful motor, and the ability to actually press into the metal to cut (assuming a sharp bit and OIL!).

Totally different subject, but my uncle was talking about some machine tools that are designed a little differently that somehow don't heat the metal being cut nearly as much (has something to do with the heat transfer into the piece being cut away). It's amazing stuff that makes a huge difference. It's also hundreds of dollars per bit and they are drenched in cutting fluid.

[Shaolin Crane]

I can do it in about Five seconds with my mill.

[injdinjn]

Torque is your friend when drilling as long as it doesn't kick back ( goodbye wrist) slow speed reduces heat as does cutting oil . I have a old all steel 1/2in drill and a 1/4 in with a bad trigger. I had a all steel skill worm drive saw but it started overheating so I sold it at a garage sale - it was tooooo heavy anyway.

[blackax]

about 10 sec with my plasma cutter.

[injdinjn]

about 10 sec with my plasma cutter.

LOL

Yea that's a inexpensive tool. everybody should have one. How many drill bits can you buy for the same price as a plasma cutter. LOL