Drilling a hole in mild steel - how hard should it be?

[skotl]

Someone mentioned step drills a wee bit further up and, for anyone who doesn't have a set of these, I can heartily recommend them.

Despite the discussion of cheap vs. not, these are the exact ones I bought around five years ago and they have been awesome. Can't remember how much I paid for them but Amazon is alleging a £21 discount from £30 to £9 - a bargain at that price.

Just used one of them today to increase the diameter of a number of large washers.

 

[rockweasel]

Someone mentioned step drills a wee bit further up and, for anyone who doesn't have a set of these, I can heartily recommend them.

Despite the discussion of cheap vs. not, these are the exact ones I bought around five years ago and they have been awesome. Can't remember how much I paid for them but Amazon is alleging a £21 discount from £30 to £9 - a bargain at that price.

Just used one of them today to increase the diameter of a number of large washers.

Worth a punt at that price. I've had one for a couple of years. Showing its age now.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Damn you Skot, just had to buy at that price. 6 piece set available at under £6 + p&p, had to be done http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UL99CAY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Also picked up a rubber air line for my small compressor to replace the horrible plastic one which has a mind of it's own, and attacks like a boa constrictor given the slightest opportunity.

 

[Wallace]

A couple of toolrooms I have worked in had good sets of bits kept locked away for accurate work and a couple of sets left out for general use to save the good ones. Works quite well if all and sundry are allowed in to use the machinery.

Someone mentioned step drills a wee bit further up and, for anyone who doesn't have a set of these, I can heartily recommend them.

Despite the discussion of cheap vs. not, these are the exact ones I bought around five years ago and they have been awesome. Can't remember how much I paid for them but Amazon is alleging a £21 discount from £30 to £9 - a bargain at that price.

Just used one of them today to increase the diameter of a number of large washers.

Hmm....

• Titanium nitride coated high speed steel

Being cynical it worries me seeing Am-Tech and HSS in the same sentence! I have a very old HSS cone cutter that is Ok but might have to try a set of these for some GRP work I'm doing. How much commission are you on Skotl?

 

[skotl]

A couple of toolrooms I have worked in had good sets of bits kept locked away for accurate work and a couple of sets left out for general use to save the good ones. Works quite well if all and sundry are allowed in to use the machinery.


Hmm....

• Titanium nitride coated high speed steel

Being cynical it worries me seeing Am-Tech and HSS in the same sentence! I have a very old HSS cone cutter that is Ok but might have to try a set of these for some GRP work I'm doing. How much commission are you on Skotl?

Zero

Like I said, for the money it's hard to go wrong and I can confirm that they (well, the three that I linked to) definitely do the job.

 

[skotl]

Damn you Skot, just had to buy at that price. 6 piece set available at under £6 + p&p, had to be done http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UL99CAY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Also picked up a rubber air line for my small compressor to replace the horrible plastic one which has a mind of it's own, and attacks like a boa constrictor given the slightest opportunity.

Umm... hate to rain in your parade but I think they're one of six at £6, but it does hint at a "set of three" at one of the higher prices.

Still bargaintastic, I think

 

[Wallace]

Zero

Like I said, for the money it's hard to go wrong and I can confirm that they (well, the three that I linked to) definitely do the job.

I had beer and succumbed to the temptation! If they're no good I'll post them through your door with some blunt old Dormer drills to sharpen next time I'm in Airdrie. Should zip through the GRP job no problem though, the cone cutter is useful but a nuisance through thick material as it leaves a tapered hole.

 

[skotl]

No problem

For thicker material, as I discovered earlier today, it does help if you come at it from both sides.

 

[pedrobedro]

I bought a set of step drills from Aldi years ago and they are still going strong. I've used them to drill up to 3mm thick mild steel and the steps don't leave a taper in that

 

[mtt.tr]

I only use four facet ground drills a huge improvement. I currently run Clarke pro cobalt drills. The shanks are a bit soft though.

The other nice ones are dormer there is no money wasted in expensive drills and taps as if looked after will last a life time.

I just need to make a grinding jig to do the four facets.

 

[JohnRUFC]

From experience you don't need expensive drills. You just need to sharpen them on a regular basis. If you buy the penny drills from China however you'd have more luck throwing them at the material and hoping it chips the correct size hole! A decent set of HSS drills should see you through anything, I never needed Carbide tipped drills.

 

[mtt.tr]

Also rust is rather tough. You learn that when turning thick rust takes the edge of most tools

 

[Kent]

I bet these drills were ground wrong at the factory
I have seen them with reverse rake before now on cheap drill bits

 

[optima21]

Im another fan of step drills too, once you've drilled to the right size, the next size up is great for removing the burr on the hole, without using a countersink. also its helps if they have hexagonal shanks (like the ones shown) to stop then rotating in some drill chucks.

 

[mtt.tr]

It's sad I know. But I would honestly advice everyone to read and understand the geometry of a drill bit, any cutting tool even it helps make a choice of what is best for what.

 

[dobbslc]

I was also ready to spend my crisp £10 note BUT the word Am-Tech has scared me off as well....

 

[Wallace]

I was also ready to spend my crisp £10 note BUT the word Am-Tech has scared me off as well....

Mine dropped through the door this morning, not as described on Amazon as they all have 1/4" hex Snappy shanks instead of 6mm. 8mm & 10mm. 1/4" hex looks a bit weedy to drive the 32mm cutter through steel but would be OK on GRP. I can see a complaint coming on with Amazon!

 

[Kent]

Drills UK are worth a call big e- Bay seller but cheaper direct if your trade or buying a worthy quantity
Based in Wigan

 

[DanielW]

Well you know why go to amazon.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/sun-25-oct/product-detail/ps/p/hss-drill-bit-sets-2/

 

[DanielW]

Someone mentioned step drills a wee bit further up and, for anyone who doesn't have a set of these, I can heartily recommend them.

Despite the discussion of cheap vs. not, these are the exact ones I bought around five years ago and they have been awesome. Can't remember how much I paid for them but Amazon is alleging a £21 discount from £30 to £9 - a bargain at that price.

Just used one of them today to increase the diameter of a number of large washers.

I don't see the point in buying this ie the middle bit is going up to 20mm and theres the same steps up 20mm and up to 32mm in the larger bit.

I think seperates are more economical ie forget the smaller and middle bit and buy the 32mm bit as there's no need to buy the smaller bits because they're already on the 32mm bit.