RE:Tip for Drilling a Hole in Stainless Steel

Eh NCKA Bruddahs,
Wanted to share with you something that I just learned. Some of you may already know how to drill in stainless steel. Anyway, started with having to modify my Lowrance Hook 5 transducer holder to accommodate a Scotty Transducer arm.
Figured that I had to drill 2 extra holes on each side of the stainless steel Lowrance transducer mounting bracket. Went online and found this out.
You can use any type of metal drilling bit and don’t need a very powerful drill.
First step is to mark the spot by holding the drill bit in the drill over the spot and hand turning the chuck so that the bit makes a very small mark/dent in the stainless steel plate. If you want to finish off with a ¼ inch hole, like I did, you start with drilling a 1/8” pilot hole. You have to drill a slow speed and keep and cup or small container of cold water next to your drill. When you see the drill bit starting to smoke or steam, stop and dip the drill bit in the cold water to cool it off and resume drilling in short and slow reps. Keep dipping the bit in cold water as soon as you see steam or smoke and repeat progress. There will a tendency to rev up the drill to high speed, but that will not help with the drilling.
After you have drilled the small pilot hole, finish off with the bit size you want, mine being ¼” and repeat process of drilling slow and alternating with cooling the bit off.
It really works and is surprising pretty fast and precise. I hope this is useful. I started drilling without using this technique and it was very difficult!!!
Here’s some pics:
Aloha,
 Da Bruddah (Michael Y.)

Thanks for the tip Da Bruddah.  I use cutting oil instead of water.

Very helpful tip for making knife jigs.

Industrial Mechanic here, Low Speed-High torque lots of lube for cooling!

Industrial Mechanic here, Low Speed-High torque lots of lube for cooling!

Everyone wants to go fast and smoke out and burn out their bits......slow and steady wins the race

thanks for sharing bruddah! 

I just use WD-40

Great tip Michael.

Thank you!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Industrial Mechanic here, Low Speed-High torque lots of lube for cooling!

Everyone wants to go fast and smoke out and burn out their bits......slow and steady wins the race

Yeah and soon as they stop for a second the stainless will work harden / temper making it even harder to drill.

I just use WD-40

WD-40 will work as a coolent but is not a lubricant.

Thanks for sharing!  I've always wondered about this.

You can also use a hammer and nail (or other pokey object) to make a little divot so your bit doesn't jump around. With this method, you shouldn't need to drill a pilot hole first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I use a spring loaded center punch for the initial dent. Very accurate and easy. Then use high quality drill bits I got at a welding supply place. They are the best drills I've ever used! Then use thick cutting oil to lube and cool. Keep adding oil before it heats up too much.  Constant pressure and steady slower speeds gets it done.