You have a piece of metal that needs a few holes drilled in it. You consider it to be of no consequence. Take a bit and your drill. You decide it’s time to visit the hardware store for a new drill bit five minutes later when you’ve barely made a dent in the metal. You still haven’t finished drilling holes when, after a few minutes, the new drill bit’s tip turns blue. You deliver it to a pal’s home. the person who appears to be adept at all tasks. He quickly drills all of the holes. Read on to learn the methods and shortcuts you need to know about drilling through metal if this sounds familiar.
Table of Contents
Figure Out What Metal You’re Working With
In many instances, this ought to be simple to determine. On the basis of the label or receipt, you ought to be aware. To identify the type of metal you’re using, you may occasionally need to conduct some testing or research. This is true for situations where you’re using scrap metal or otherwise don’t precisely know what metal you’re dealing with.
This is a crucial step because you’ll need to use the right drill bit and technique for your metal piece. Not all metals are cut the same way or with the same tools.
Get the Appropriate Drill Bit
You must choose the proper drill bit based on the type of metal you’re working with. Different types of metal are rated for specific drill bits.
Metal cannot be cut through with regular drill bits. They’ll become exhausted and make uneven cuts. A twisted drill bit with a flat center is what you should seek out. Since they are designed to cut through wood, those with protruding centers will overheat if they come into contact with metal. Additionally, with hard substances like metal, the pointed center is easily damaged.
Drill bits come in four different categories.
- Although high-speed steel bits are the least expensive option, they must be replaced frequently.
- For cutting through hard materials like stainless steel and other similar materials, titanium drill bits are the best and are recommended.
- The bits come in black oxide and cobalt steel. They cost much more and are only marginally superior to HSS bits. They are not worth the added expense. Simply purchase the titanium replacement parts.
- Additionally, step bits—which are cone-shaped—are readily available. Since the depth also determines the size of the hole, these bits are used to drill holes of various sizes. However, only professionals typically use them.
Get a Suitable Drill
The next step is to get a drill powerful enough to bunch through the metal. Of course, your chosen drill bit must work with the drill as well. Frequently, drills are designed to work with particular bits. Because of this, you must make sure it can be used with a drill bit that can cut through the metal you’re using for your project.
To cut through the metal, you don’t need a powerful industrial drill or drill press. In fact, the majority of mid-range consumer drills can cut through metal. If you aren’t doing it regularly, there isn’t much of a reason to buy something professional.
Adjustable speed is the single important feature you really need. Put your drill on a relatively low speed to cut through metal. This will not be feasible if it is not adjustable. The lower the drill can move, the better.
Use a Metal Lubricant
Having a metal lubricant on hand is also necessary. By lowering friction during drilling, the heat produced is decreased. One of the main issues with drilling through metal is the generation of heat because it can cause sparks and possibly damage the drill or bit. When it comes to metals, different lubricants are required. There is a wide selection available for you to pick from.
Put on Appropriate Protection
The proper safety equipment must be used when drilling through metal. To shield your eyes from potential shards, you must wear eye protection. You should wear a mask as well because you don’t want to breathe in any metal shards or other foreign objects.
You should also prepare to wear eye protection if you plan to work for an extended period of time. Drilling can be quite loud, so you should take precautions to keep your ears safe.
Prepare the Metal
You need to place a scrap piece of wood under and above the metal you’re drilling before you start. By helping to keep your bit in place, the wood will enable you to create a clean hole.
You must then drill a pilot hole. This will also assist your drill bit in traveling in the desired path and to the desired location. Otherwise, it would be simple for bits to skip the surface and enter the incorrect location. Fortunately, all you need is a nail and a hammer to make a pilot hole. Make a small impression in the wood for the bit to “sit” into.
Get Drilling!
You are now ready to begin drilling because you have the necessary supplies and preparation. Do not exert too much force while moving slowly. Apply lubrication liberally. Creating too much heat can lead to a variety of issues, so you should try to avoid doing it. Don’t move as quickly as you think you should.
Stop when you see smoke. This suggests that there is too much heat being produced by the drilling. Before beginning again, you should pause and give everything a chance to cool down. Make sure you’re running at a very low speed and add some more lubrication.
You will need to clean the hole if it is still a little bit gritty. The bit can be manually inserted into the hole several times to accomplish this, which should help remove a lot of extra metal shavings. Naturally, take extra care to avoid getting cut by any sharp metal edges. Put on gloves designed for this type of work!
Conclusion
In particular, if you’ve never done it before, drilling through metal can be a little intimidating. It’s not difficult, though, if you know how to do it. While it does require a little more setup and skill than simply drilling through wood, it is still feasible.
FAQs
What Kind of Drill Will Go through Metal?
Steel and hard metal are drilled with cobalt drill bits. They are superior to titanium- or black oxide-coated drill bits for drilling into hard metals because they quickly dissipate heat and are extremely resistant to abrasions.
Do You Use Hammer Drill for Metal?
Never drill through wood, metal, plastic, or any other material while in hammer mode. In those materials, the chipping motion does not speed up drilling. It can sometimes slow you down and make the experience very vibrating.
How Do You Drill Hard Steel?
Put a few drops of oil on the metal before you begin drilling to lubricate the drill bit and lessen the amount of heat produced while drilling, which lowers the risk of dulling the drill bit. Because of this, you should drill slowly to avoid overheating.
What Type of Drill Bit is Strongest?
The hardest and most fragile of all the materials used to make drill bits is carbide (Carb). It’s mostly used for drilling in production settings, where premium tool holders and machinery are employed. It shouldn’t be applied in drill presses or even manual drills. These drill bits are made for the toughest and most demanding materials.
