Electric drill whip

[Thrashsmith]

Quite often when I'm drilling mild steel with an electric hand drill the bit snags in that last 1/2mm so the chuck kicks in and I can't get all the way through. The only option I'm then left with is turn the chuck onto full on drill mode so the chuck doesn't kick in, allowing the bit to eat through that last 1/2mm.

All well and good but from time to time the bit will also snag whilst on that full drill mode and then the drill whips round to the right, nearly breaking my wrist. What's the best way to hold a hand drill to reduce the ferosity of that sudden whip?

 

[Mikey D]

Side handle ?..

 

[zzr1200]

Tightly and ready yourself, you should try an old style Wolf Gut Buster Drill, them's fun when they snag...

 

[Thrashsmith]

I should have said I'm using a battery powered drill. I'll see if I can get an attachment Bosch side handle, one didn't come with it.

 

[MCKDAVID]

have a look on the side of the drill and tell me if it's a threaded hole or a clamp on handle. Either way, I've a few kicking around from od and dead drills so pretty sure I can find you one that'll fit, might not be bosch though.

let me know and I'll stick one in the post to you..

 

[Thrashsmith]

That's very kind, thanks very much, I'll have a nosey later. If there's a threaded hole I'll try one of the handles I've taken off my Bosch 115mm grinder.

I'd like to say I'm surprised I didn't think of this already but knowing how thick I am unfortunately I can't say I'm surprised.

 

[Pete.]

Sharpen your drill with less lip clearance (aka back off) and/or a wider drill point angle. The wider point angle will cause the tip to break through later and the lower lip clearance will reduce the tendency to pull the bit through the hole.

http://www.michigandrill.com/tech/twist_drills/point_grinding.php

 

[Spark plug]

There is a bit of technique involved too, as you feel the drill come to the end of the hole was off the pressure a bit to help prevent it snagging.

This is something that will come with practice.

 

[Gareth J]

As above. But if it's too late and you've already snagged, put the drill in "fast" gear if it has one. The drill has much less torque and if it snags again, you'll be able to hang on much easier. Feed it in super slowly to start with so you just trim off the burrs you've just made without digging in.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I agree with Spark plug, "read" the signs of nearing the end of the hole or if it is happening a lot on one particular material take the edge off the drill a little,

 

[dobbslc]

You can normally hear / feel the difference when it's about to break through, just take the pressure off the drill a bit. As above high speed and light pressure.

 

[fixerupper]

I 've found a bit of cutting compound helps if you have loads of holes to drill ,and the bits seem to hold their edge longer...yeah and listen to the sound of the bit.....jeff

 

[BrokenBiker]

use a sharp bit on the correct(ish) speed. i know its hard to regulate speed on a cordless drill, i set mine to low for all drilling purposes in metal...you shouldnt use the clutch either when drilling, that is why it has a 'drill' mode...the clutch is for doing up fasteners so you dont split the wood with the head of a screw if the clutch is set right it will pull the fastner in and then just click away merrily when its tight.

cutting fluid or compound is a must for drilling steel and i find maintaining light but firm pressure helps stop it snagging at the end of the cut

 

[Thrashsmith]

Cheers for the replies. In the past I've tried using the method of high speed and light pressure to ease my way through the last part but I remember slightly cringing thinking if I don't apply enough pressure I'm just heating the drill bit tip. I always use CT cutting fluid.
Being the most impatient person in the world probably doesn't help matters much.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Cheers for the replies. In the past I've tried using the method of high speed and light pressure to ease my way through the last part but I remember slightly cringing thinking if I don't apply enough pressure I'm just heating the drill bit tip. I always use CT cutting fluid.
Being the most impatient person in the world probably doesn't help matters much.

if all else fails and you dont care too much about dulling your bits, if it snags, pull it out, set to high, get it spinning inside the hole and jab it through... will leave a bad finsih on the back of the hole though

 

[fixerupper]

Yes I think the trick is to let the drill and the bit do the work , you're just there to hang on to the drill and point it in the right direction .....jeff