- Thread starter ELL
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hotponyshoes
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Where abouts are you drilling the holes?
If it's new track it probably won't be very hard at all and any decent drill will do.
The top surface might be flame hardened, use a new bit, once through the top layer swap to another bit. Use the first bit again to start any more holes on the top.
If it's used track then depending on use it will have work hardened, most of it should still drill fine. Take a file to the top surface before trying to drill and see how hard it is.
If it's new track it probably won't be very hard at all and any decent drill will do.
The top surface might be flame hardened, use a new bit, once through the top layer swap to another bit. Use the first bit again to start any more holes on the top.
If it's used track then depending on use it will have work hardened, most of it should still drill fine. Take a file to the top surface before trying to drill and see how hard it is.
brightspark
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you havent said what size drill bits . probs need a pilot drill if bigger than 3/8th hss and slow speed with cutting compound
Jack_K
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This is the proper stuff...
Gives you an idea of what drill and bits are normally used.
Gives you an idea of what drill and bits are normally used.
Agroshield
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With drilling, there is no such thing as 'too slow' unless at micro sizes. Look at Fred Dibnah drilling holes in a boiler with a ratchet brace. Slow speed, sharp tools and good pressure will go through anything. The most common fault with drilling is too fast and not pressing hard enough - high speed rubbing makes friction not holes.
An appropriate pillar drill needs its power in the form of torque at low rpm. Unless it can go below 200 rpm, keep looking.
An appropriate pillar drill needs its power in the form of torque at low rpm. Unless it can go below 200 rpm, keep looking.
ELL
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Stop trying to "derail" my thread pal. Just as it was building up steam, you had to come and send it off track,and that's just not fare is it. You're clearly getting ideas above your station.
ELL
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13mm holes or thereabouts.
ELL
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Where? Through the side of the rail. Thanks.
hotponyshoes
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Ton-up
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I have drilled 100 or so 20mm holes through the vertical web of narrow gauge railway rail in the last 18 months or so as my mate decided he wanted a railway around his fields! He bought very long lengths cut in half, so we had to drill holes for the fishplates to join the rails together.
All we have used is a jig to hold a mag drill and normal HSS Rotabroach cutters.
All we have used is a jig to hold a mag drill and normal HSS Rotabroach cutters.
MattF
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Erbauer?
hotponyshoes
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That's it!
brightspark
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animals
the chissel on the tip of the drill will just scrape through . bet it takes some force without pilotThey use a proper track drilling machine, it's slow but does the job well. Sometimes I think it polishes its way through.animals
MattF
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animals
Depends how the bits are ground. The web is a non-issue on some grinds.
These are a good example:
Erie Fred
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I figured they would punch them.
