Drilling a hole in a ferro rod?

B

Bwilson

Joined
Aug 18, 2006
Messages
257
I just placed an order for 1/2" x 4" ferro rod blank from goinggear with the intention of drilling a hole in it for a lanyard/striker. It occurred to me after I placed the order that it may be difficult to drill the hole. Has anyone done this (I'm sure someone has) and how hard is it? Any advice from those that have done would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

B.
 
I am also interested in this..I have thought about this, and it occurs to me that MAYBE, lots of oil and a slow RPM might be in order. I also wonder if the dang thing is just gonna burst into a VERY hot pile of molten metal and burn through my drill press table!!!
 
Haven't done this yet, but I would think a slow speed, with a fairly thick oil that will not light up if it gets a few sparks. Also just start with a small bit and work your way up to the size of the hole you want.

I have heard of people drilling it in a bucket of water, thats not a bad idea. Also I would vacuum up any sawdust around where you are drilling as that would catch a spark easily.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!
 
I did it over a sink with a cordless drill on the slowest setting. I used a small drill bit first, than when done used a bigger drill bit to the size I wanted te hole to be.

Go slow and keep the rod wet, or it will light up like the 4th....
 
LOW RPMs, might even want to use water. I don't know how hard ferrocium is, you might want/need a carbide drill.

On second thought, use a high speed steel bit and the highest RPMs your drill will go to. . .just post a video of it!! :D
 
I searched a bit and found a guy that recommended placing the ferro rod in a shallow pan of water and drilling the hole while underwater. I'm not too terribly concerned about the sparks (of course I don't want to burn the house down) but I've cut lengths off of them before with a hacksaw without much problem. I Have a variable speed drill press and was also thinking that a slow speed would be the ticket - I would love to hear from someone that has done it and may be able to offer some advice prior to me screwing up a perfectly good ferro rod.

Gunknifenut- I was thinking about placing it on a scrap piece of plywood while drilling to avoid damage to the press table, you think that would be ok?
 
Cpl Punishment said:
LOW RPMs, might even want to use water. I don't know how hard ferrocium is, you might want/need a carbide drill.

On second thought, use a high speed steel bit and the highest RPMs your drill will go to. . .just post a video of it!! :D
Click to expand...

LMAO:D

The guy on the site I found said pretty much the same thing (jokingly of course) and recommended the guy stand in gasoline and use gun powder as a lubricant. Would prob make for a great youtube vid hey!
 
I have drilled these before with little issue - you are overthinking it. Drills cannot move as fast as the human hand scraping. Go slow - don't sweat it.

Remember - they have to cut these somehow.

TF
 
Thanks Talfuchre - I usually overthink every thing I do:) I'm sure it will work out fine - I'll post some pics of how I decide to go about it after I receive the ferro rod.
 
i have done it a few times, like was mentioned, just don't go super fast and i always use some sort of cutting fluid...oil, water, etc.

i used my hand drill with the rod locked up in a vise.
 
I usually buy the 1/2 by 12 inch "beast" stick. I cut it into three 4in parts and drill a 1/8 hole in each. I cut them with a hacksaw and it only takes about 30sec par cut. I use a power drill to make the holes on a slow speed. I start with a 1/16 bit then the 1/8 and have never had a problem. Ferrocerium is very soft and easy ti drill. I don't use water and the shards will spark but the rod will not light or anything. It takes a lot more energy to light a whole rod than those little sparks have,
 
I've done it. Put on a pair of sunglasses, and have fun. Lots of sparks, but if you keep it away from stuff that ignites easily, it's no problem.
 
Bwilson said:
LMAO:D

The guy on the site I found said pretty much the same thing (jokingly of course) and recommended the guy stand in gasoline and use gun powder as a lubricant. Would prob make for a great youtube vid hey!
Click to expand...



I do believe that was me. ;) ..the internets are a very small place at times.
 
In my experience standard ferrocerium is harder to drill than the Goinggear milchmetal. I spray throughout the drilling with water (simple spray bottle). As others have mentioned, small drill bit, then larger bit, slow speed. In the past it was like the 4th of July when I drilled standard ferrocerium without the water spray. The bits did not dull as quickly when lubricated with water either.
 
It is easy. drill slowly and keep it under water. The wet dust doesnt catch fire. It doesnt need much force so you can hold it it in one hand and the drill in the other and just drill in the zink. I drilled dry once. It resulted in an apartment full of smoke when the small lump of drilled out stuff caught fire :)
 
Thanks for all the responses everyone. It doesn't appear (based on those that have done it) that I will have any probs. As usual - I'm making things more difficult than they need be.
 
I have drilled several and its just like drilling any other metal. A sharp drill bit helps. No water or oil and just with a normal battery hand drill ... no show unfortunately. I grind off any moulded handles and just drill a hole in all the ferro rods I have. I've hacksawed a few in half also and all that does is produce a few little sparks.
 
Thats cool, I think I will get a big one then..I have always wanted a large rod with a lanyard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top