Diamond Bits & Stone

Dementia

Dementia

Joined
Oct 25, 1999
Messages
184
Hey~

I was wondering if anyone could gimme some pointers.

i recently got a set of diamond drills and burrs.
and getting home, eager to drill through some Tigeriron to turn into a spacer for my newest blade .. i set about drilling.

The trouble is that all i end up doing is breaking the slab of stone that i was drilling.

i tried again and didnt put much pressure on it at all .. taking hours to go .. it still breaks about 2/3 through.

i had a look at the drill and it seems Very dull...
i have a continuous water flow going on the bit and i take things really slow and steady .. and take breaks .. (basically because i am paranoid about overheating)

i have also tried a couple different types of stone ... some of which are totally soft .. and shouldnt have much bother in drilling through.. but it doesnt seem to want to go through it...
:(

can anyone suggest what the heck i am doing wrong ..
or what i might try .... or anything to shed light on this little problem i am having.

the knife show is fast approaching and the clock is ticking ever so quickly.

Thanks.

D.
 
Check the drill bit for tapering. If the tip area wears more than the shank, the bit will wedge and could cause the stone to shatter.

Chattering of the drill bit also could weaken the stone.

Some stones just do not want to be drilled and will fight you every bit of the way.
 
Years ago, I got to play with a diamond saw that cut stone. I remember waiting for hours to finish the cut. The blade pressure on the saw was controled by a spring and was fairly gentle. The water bath is right. the diamond grit on those Burrs is fine, so expect it to take awhile. Try tieing a string from the control arm of the drill press to a stationary object hang just enough weight on the string to overcome the return spring. this will give you an auto feed on your drill press. you may also want to line your vice with rubber or leather (this will take some of the pressure off the stone)

I hope this helps, good luck Eric
 
A bur is a tough way to drill holes. I have drilled many clock faces in hard agate with a 3/8 core drill. This is a drill with a hollow center.
I take the slab mark the hole and build a clay dam around the hole about 3 inches accross and 1/2 inch deep. Start the drill and work it up and down so as to flush out the cuttings. Don't use to much pressure just enough to feel the cutting action.Be careful when you start to break through so you don't chip the back side to bad.
Take Care
T
 
Guess I'm old fashioned, use carbide glass cutting bits. Keep it totally submerged in water. Connect a screen door spring to the arm on the drill press. It also helps if you have a v/s drill press.
KEN (WWJD)
 
Hey again~

thanks guys, (and hello George.. long time no see :) )
i will look at what i can do with my new found info.

though i think i might wait until after the pressure of the knife show is off of me ..
(first actual knife show i am attending)
i think all my actions are a little too fast paced right now to take things as slow as needed.
:D

i think i might get a different drill bit too .. cause the biggest drill that i have right now is kinda small ... and it does chatter sometimes (ever so slightly... but obviously enough)

thanks again for the help.

D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top