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4th May 2022, 9:51 pm | #21 |
Pentode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 171
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
What a brilliant tip, this would have saved me working my way up the drill box one or Two sizes at a time and still often having the bigger drills snatch. I do tend to use a step cutter or hole punch these days but will certainly try this method out. Thanks for posting John
Kind regards Tony |
8th May 2022, 8:27 am | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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Re: Drilling holes in thin metal
For the reasons outlined in the video, engineering drills are entirely the wrong tool for drilling holes in thin gauge metal. Sure, if you only have such drills to hand, using the technique illustrated with a piece of cloth will stop the metal being snatched, drawn up the flute of the drill and wrecked, but it's improvising. ('If the only tool you have in your box, everything looks like a nail, including screws').
The correct tool to use to cut holes in thin sheet is a step drill. They drill their own pilot hole and go up a step at a time in 1 - 2 mm stages. They've been mentioned before, are not expensive, will drill holes cleanly, safely, and without snatching. A couple of examples of titanium coated HSS step drills for under £10.00: 5mm – 35mm in 2mm steps for £8.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vakki-Cutti...1KRDFK6I&psc=1 Set of three, from 1mm to 20mm £8.49: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Titanium-Co...75504327&psc=1 I've had a set of three for about ten years, which get used frequently to drill sheet metal, and acrylic sheet. They cost me a tenner and are still as good as new. I've attached an example of 22mm and 32mm holes quickly, cleanly and safely drilled in a piece of 2mm thick aluminium sheet.
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David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |