Drilling problem

A

Ang_Panday

Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
574
A friend of mine gave me a blank blade with no holes on the tang. I decided to drill two 1/4 holes were I will install the pins for the handle, but on half way the drill bit starts squeaking loud. I do not know what kind of metal I'am dealing with, but I think it is a special kind of aloy :confused::confused::confused:

....how do you guys deal with this kind of problem. I think I have hardened certain parts of the tang :confused: I have already dulled 2 HSS bits on this :mad::mad::mad:
 
start with a fresh new bit, slow the drill to 120 RPM or slower, start by centerpunching and use lots of oil

-page
 
I second cobalt bits and the use of some type of coolant. Cobalt bits aren't expensive and will work much better.

Sean
 
I've had pretty good luck using a diamond hone to sharpen carbide masonary bits. They are expecially good for reaming a small hole to a larger hole, e.g. 1/8" to 1'4". They don't grab and tear everything up the way a regular twist drill will. An added benifit is that they are a bit oversized from their called out size, so your pins or tubes won't be too tight.

It's pretty easy to get them sharp enough to redrill existing holes, it takes a little practice to sharpen them right for drilling new holes.
 
Sounds like you are trying to drill through heat treated metal. I would suggest a carbide tip bit, a slower drill speed and lot of drill lube...
 
If its not heat treated.... take a torch to it and let it air cool. If you suspect it is air hardening, heat up a thick chunk o metal and place it on top of the spot you need to drill and let it cool.(I use a 3/4"dia x 3" dowel heated to dull red) That should temper it back enough to drill through. I do that with hardened blades.
 
wd40 I drill a lot of harden steel. you take it slow and keep spraying the wd40 on it and dont be cheap use it alot. I was drilling ibeams with a special bit. I did it with spraying wd40.I got 14 holes drilled. another guy tryed it and didnt get one hole drilled before he broke the bit. the drill bits that we where useing are around $125.00 eacvh.
 
If the material it’s not heat treat jet,
Maybe you make hard wend it get hot and ad oil
Cause of the drill bit friction and the oil

Try carbide or cobalt don’t let it get hot
 
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When all else fails, I'll hand sharpen a bit, then chuck it in the drill press and turn it by hand while feeding pressure with my other hand. This sounds laborious, but I can get a H.S.S. drill through hardened stainless this way and still have a sharp bit when I'm done if I need to.
 
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