Drilling through mild steel with no cutting compound

[Erie Fred]

Re: stepping up in sizes... for me totally depends how thick the stuff im drilling is and how big he hole

With stainless ill step up sizes a lot more than with steel

You do run the risk of work hardening if your steps are too small with stainless.

 

[knighty]

You do run the risk of work hardening if your steps are too small with stainless.

Drill on slow push hard!

Works every time for me, less of a step up means you can go through quick before it gets a chance to heat up or harden.


If I've got a lot to do ill sharpen a drill with an aggressive point on it

 

[Farside]

an old fashioned pump oil can does the trick for me ,,,,

Ditto, or a hand pump/sprayer with either old oil or ATF / diesel mix in it.
For years I was recycling empty kitchen cleaner spray bottles the missus used, but as time passed the quality of them went way down.
Now I use a couple of dedicated Wurth spray bottles with no annoyances with leaking or refusing to pump up.

Drives me pots when I see idiots on Youtube dry drilling holes - you know the ones, they set themselves out like they're some kind of expert and when you see how they work, it's obvious they're some kind of liability in a workshop.

 

[fizzy]

I never drill dry on metals. WD40 on ali - soluble cutting fluid from a trigger pump bottle on everything else.
Especially when using bigger cutters. Never even see steam never mind smoke.

 

[addjunkie]

Even water is better than nothing, but I usually just use oil out of a pump oil ca!

 

[Pond frog]

For a while I was using a bottle of soluble bath oil as Mrs Frog didn’t like it and I don't like to throw anything away.
It worked fine and the workshop smelt very fragrant whenever I was drilling

 

[fizzy]

For a while I was using a bottle of soluble bath oil as Mrs Frog didn’t like it and I don't like to throw anything away.
It worked fine and the workshop smelt very fragrant whenever I was drilling

A mate of mine does some amazing chainsaw carvings. He uses baby oil for the chain - well that is his excuse anyway

 

[sako243]

I don't know what it is but @northwest left me a bottle of cutting oil and it's rather nice. Equally for other stuff I've got some rocol thick grease style stuff that works well.

 

[fractured]

I often use engine oil either from a pump can or sometimes in a little tub (like a bottle top). Just cools the drill bit and gives a bit of lube. Bits last a lit longer.

 

[brightspark]

I use wd40 cutting oil. works like a charm.

learn something new everyday , didnt know wd 40 made cutting oil but they do