How to make a big hole in metal. How to drill hardened steel at home

12.06.2019

Metal processing is one of the rather complex operations. Drilling may be required when performing repairs to the premises or your own car, as well as manufacturing various designs on the suburban area. As in the case of any other holes, we need a hand drill, which can be supplemented with various additional devices. Although the drill is a very popular and sought-after tool that is available in almost every home, it is required to have considerable experience in terms of metal processing. In our article we will talk about drilling metal, drills and some features of this laborious process.

Tools and drills - what we need for drilling

Drilling holes in metal is a special technology, which consists in removing a certain layer of material due to the simultaneous rotational and translational movement of the drill. It is necessary to fix the drill in one position so that the drill does not move during operation. This is the main condition for the correct and safe performance of work. In order for the drill axis to be in a fixed position, you can use one of the many devices, which will be discussed below.

We need the following tools for working with metal:

Drill hand or electric
twist drill
A hammer
Kerner
Safety glasses and gloves

It will be impossible to achieve success in the planned event without the appropriate drill. The choice of this element is a very important point, because various drills are selected based on the properties of the metal, as well as the diameter of the future hole. Drills are usually made from high speed steel. The most common are products made of steel grade R6M5. In some cases, cobalt additives are used to increase the durability and wear resistance of the drill. In this case, the letter K appears in the product labeling. For very hard metals, drills equipped with a small solder on the tip are used, which provides the necessary level of drilling of the material.

You should be aware that not all drills are able to make exactly the holes that you need. So, the manufacturer usually indicate the relevant information in the instruction manual. For example, drill a hole large diameter a drill with a power of 700 W will not work. After all, this equipment is designed to create a hole with a maximum size of 13 mm in diameter.

Drill accessories - how to make your life easier

Drilling metal causes difficulties for many people, even experienced craftsmen. One reason is the physical complexity of the process itself. After all, it is necessary to keep a heavy drill at a right angle in a clearly fixed position for a long time. However, you can always use additional devices designed to facilitate the whole process.

In hardware stores, you can purchase the following mechanisms for perpendicular drilling of holes in metal products:

1. Drilling jigs
2. Drill guides
3. Drill stands

Conductors are very popular, it is with their help that specialists make holes in products. The mechanism itself is a kind of box, easy to hold, in which the guide bushings are located. Suitable for working with drills of various diameters. The bushings are made of very hard grades of metal, much harder than the drill itself. Therefore, do not worry that when working with a drill, they will be damaged.

You only need to place the jig over the place of the future hole, previously marked with a center punch, and then turn on the drill. The drill will be firmly fixed with bushings, so it will not go away from the given direction. The jig is especially useful when drilling a cylindrical shape, for example, pipes, since the tip of the drill constantly slides off the round shape of the pipe.

You can also purchase guides for a hand drill - this is a useful support mechanism, where the drill is fixed by the neck to achieve immobility during operation. The sole, held by the free hand, is installed on the workpiece itself. In this state of affairs, the tool moves exclusively vertically, without the slightest deviation or distortion.

To date, universal designs are produced, equipped with an angular holder. Thanks to this, you can drill holes with a drill even at an angle. True, in the case of metal, it is very difficult to drill at an angle using guides, since lateral overloads break the drill almost immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the purchase of solid metal products.

Another device that simplifies the process of making holes is called a stationary stand. At its core, this equipment is a somewhat simplified drilling machine, however, with less functionality, but also significantly lower cost. The drill moves along the rod with a lever. Clamps or vise are used to fix the workpiece. In terms of drilling quality, this unit is an order of magnitude higher than its other competitors. However, its price is also higher compared to conductors or guides.

Deep holes - what is their feature

The process of drilling holes in metal products differs significantly depending on the thickness of the workpiece. Deep holes are much more difficult to make compared to conventional ones. For such cases, specialists use lathes, and it is the workpiece that should rotate, and not the drill itself on the machine. An important point is the removal of waste and chips from the part, as well as the cooling of the drill.

Naturally, at home, using a lathe is unlikely to succeed. The only way out is to purchase the guides for the drill, which were described above. The length of the drill is important because the drill can only make holes two-thirds of its length. So you need to purchase a long drill, but strong enough, which will not break under the influence of huge overloads.

In the absence of guides, you can try to drill without this equipment, if you are confident in your abilities. However, it is strictly forbidden to change the drilling angle, since this can completely ruin both the drill and the workpiece.

In no case should one forget about cooling and chip removal. The easiest way is to use soapy water, in which you should first dip the tip of the drill. Some experts recommend coating the drill vegetable oil or pork fat. This will significantly reduce the friction of the product against the metal and, as a result, will have the most positive effect on the cooling of the drill.

If we talk about the extraction of chips, then this must be done with a regular frequency, periodically extracting waste from drilling. The easiest way is to turn the workpiece over so that the chips, under the action of gravity, free the hole. If the product is very heavy, then improvised devices are used, including hooks or magnets. Otherwise, the chips can clog the grooves on the drill, which will further lead to blocking of rotation, as well as breakage of the drill.

Large diameter holes are the most difficult operation

Drilling a large hole in metal is even more difficult than drilling a deep hole. There are several approaches here: either make a large-diameter hole in the metal with a cone drill in several approaches, or use a special crown. The cost of taper drills is very high, while the efficiency is lower than that of a hole saw.

That is why experts say that it is more correct to drill metal with the help of a crown. A drill is located in the central part, while at the edges there is a cutting surface with sharply sharpened teeth. Thanks to the drill, the crown is fixed in one position and does not move during operation. Drilling is carried out at low speeds of the drill, and everything must be done very carefully and carefully so as not to damage the crown.

Metal processing is carried out not only in industrial conditions. While doing repair work by car, fabrication of structures on personal plot or carrying out repairs to the home, it is necessary to drill holes in the metal. At home, a hand drill is most often used.

This versatile tool requires some solid work skills. You can purchase or make your own machine for drilling holes in metal, but this is not a cheap pleasure.

The technology of drilling holes in metal consists in removing a thin layer of material due to simultaneous translational and rotational motion.

The main condition for high-quality and safe (for the tool) processing is holding the chuck axis in a fixed position. With the help of the machine it is easy to maintain straightness, which cannot be said when working with a hand tool.

If you are not sure about the firmness of your hands (this is normal for ordinary person), drilling at a right angle requires mechanical assistants (jigs).

Immediately make a reservation that additional conductors are required only when the thickness of the metal exceeds the diameter of the drill.

If you're making a hole in a thin steel plate, straightness doesn't matter.

There are several types of hand drill guides. Power tools are not well suited for metal work, especially when it comes to precision.

Drilling guide. Made in the form of a body, easy to hold, inside of which there are guide bushings for drills of various diameters.

The material of the sleeves is harder than the tool, so the holes do not wear out. By installing the jig exactly above the center of the intended hole, you don’t have to worry that the drill will “take away” from the given direction.

This device is especially useful when drilling perpendicular holes in pipes of small diameter, when the tip tends to slip off the cylindrical surface.

Drill guide (manual). Support device in which the tool is fixed by the neck

The sole is placed on the workpiece, holding the handle with the second hand. The drill moves strictly vertically, avoiding distortions and drifts of the drill.

The design can have an angle holder for pipes of small diameter, which makes the fixture more versatile.

With a swivel mechanism, you also get a device for drilling holes at an angle.

True, the metal cannot be drilled in this way, lateral loads will quickly break the drill.

Drill stand (semi-stationary). In fact, it is an inexpensive alternative to a drilling machine.

Why do some people drill metal quickly and without much difficulty, while others resemble an epic, accompanied by broken and blunt drills?

Drill selection

Drilling of metal parts is usually performed using twist drills with two cutting edges in the working part and two helical grooves for chip removal.

The most common are drills made of R6M5 steel, drills with cobalt in the marking have the letter K (R6M5K5), such a tool blunts more slowly, but also costs more.

More high performance drills with titanium coating have strength. They differ from the rest of the tool with a yellow coating.

In addition, there are also stepped ones, which have the appearance of a Christmas tree in a longitudinal section. Made of high speed steel, they have a pitch of 2 mm, which allows them to make holes with a diameter of 4 to 36 mm in sheet metal.

Lubrication and cooling

In the process of drilling metal, the drill under the influence of friction forces can become very hot. Due to overheating, the hardness of the drill decreases and it loses its cutting properties.

This can be avoided both by cooling the drill and by reducing the friction force. For simultaneous lubrication and cooling of the drill, there are special cutting fluids and pasty formulations.

Before starting work, liquid lubricant is applied to the drill with a brush or injected with an oil can into the hole to be drilled, the paste is applied to the drill immediately before drilling.

At home in the absence special means machine oil can be used for lubrication and cooling; ordinary gray cast iron is drilled dry.

Drilling technology

Before starting, be sure to make a small indentation in the center of the future hole with a core and a hammer. This will avoid going to the side of the drill at the initial stage of its cutting into the metal.

Under the metal blank, place a piece of board of the appropriate size. The part will slip less and the exit hole edges will be much cleaner.

Hold the drill so that the drill is exactly perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece. Otherwise, the drill will deviate from the intended axis, and the thin one may even break. The use of a special drilling stand, spacer or guide greatly facilitates the work.

On the initial stage drilling, pressing the drill should be barely perceptible. As the drill cuts into the metal, the pressure can be slightly increased.

The indicator of the correctness of the choice of force for pressing is the chips issued by the drill. Small crumbs indicate that the pressure needs to be increased, thin chips indicate normal feed, while thick spiral chips indicate the need to reduce the force on the drill.

Beginning masters make the most mistakes when choosing the speed of drilling metal, setting the drill rotation speed too high. As a result, the drill overheats, quickly becomes dull and becomes unusable.

When drilling metal with a drill with a diameter of 3-4 mm, its rotation speed should not exceed 1000 rpm. With an increase in the diameter of the drill, the speed of the drill should decrease proportionally, reaching 400 rpm for drills with a thickness of 13 mm or more.

When making a through hole, pay special attention to the final phase of drilling. The drill can catch on the side cutters with a burr formed at the exit of the hole, which is fraught with a sudden blockage of the drill or even its fracture.

Always follow the completion of the drilling process by reducing the pressure on the tool.

If you need to make a hole with a large diameter, first pre-drill using a drill with a diameter of 3 to 5 mm. Then drill it with an 8 mm drill and only after that screw the drill in the chuck of an electric drill desired diameter.

This approach will provide more efficient and faster cutting of metal, reducing the likelihood of misalignment.

Good luck to you! May you succeed!

The work of drilling holes in metal, depending on the type of holes and the properties of the metal, can be performed different instrument and using various methods. We want to tell you about drilling methods, tools, as well as safety precautions when performing these works.

Drilling holes in metal may be needed when repairing engineering systems, household appliances, car, creating structures from sheet and profile steel, designing crafts from aluminum and copper, in the manufacture of circuit boards for radio equipment, and in many other cases. It is important to understand what kind of tool is needed for each type of work so that the holes are the right diameter and in a strictly intended place, and what safety measures will help to avoid injury.

Tools, fixtures, drills

The main tools for drilling are manual and electric drills, and, if possible, drilling machines. The working body of these mechanisms - the drill - can have a different shape.

There are drills:

spiral (most common);
screw;
crowns;
conical;
feathers, etc.

The production of drills of various designs is standardized by numerous GOSTs. Drills up to Ø 2 mm are not marked, up to Ø 3 mm - the section and steel grade are indicated on the shank, large diameters may contain Additional information. To obtain a hole of a certain diameter, you need to take a drill a few tenths of a millimeter smaller. The better the drill is sharpened, the smaller the difference between these diameters.

Drills differ not only in diameter, but also in length - short, elongated and long are produced. important information is the ultimate hardness of the metal being processed. The shank of the drills can be cylindrical and conical, which should be borne in mind when selecting a drill chuck or adapter sleeve.

1. Drill with a cylindrical shank. 2. Tapered shank drill. 3. Drill with a sword for carving. 4. Center drill. 5. Drill with two diameters. 6. Center drill. 7. Conical drill. 8. Conical multi-stage drill

For some work and materials, special sharpening is required. The harder the metal being processed, the sharper the edge must be sharpened. For thin sheet metal, a conventional twist drill may not be suitable, you will need a tool with a special sharpening. Detailed recommendations for various types drills and processed metals (thickness, hardness, hole type) are quite extensive, and in this article we will not consider them.

Various types of drill sharpening. 1. For hard steel. 2. For stainless steel. 3. For copper and copper alloys. 4. For aluminum and aluminum alloys. 5. For cast iron. 6. Bakelite

1. Standard sharpening. 2. Free sharpening. 3. Diluted sharpening. 4. Heavy sharpening. 5. Separate sharpening

To fix parts before drilling, a vice, stops, conductors, corners, clamps with bolts and other devices are used. This is not only a safety requirement, it is actually more convenient, and the holes are of better quality.

To chamfer and process the surface of the channel, they use a countersink of a cylindrical or conical shape, and to mark a point for drilling and so that the drill does not “jump off” - a hammer and a center punch.

Advice! The best drills are still considered to be those produced in the USSR - exact adherence to GOST in geometry and metal composition. German Ruko with titanium coating are also good, as well as drills from Bosch - proven quality. Good feedback about Haisser products - powerful, usually with a large diameter. The Zubr drills, especially the Cobalt series, proved to be worthy.

Drilling modes

It is very important to correctly fix and guide the drill, as well as select the cutting mode.

When making holes in metal by drilling important factors are the number of revolutions of the drill and the feed force applied to the drill, directed along its axis, providing the penetration of the drill at one revolution (mm / rev). When working with various metals and drills, it is recommended various modes cutting, and the harder the metal being processed and the larger the diameter of the drill, the lower the recommended cutting speed. An indicator of the correct mode is a beautiful, long chip.

Use the tables to choose the right mode and not dull the drill prematurely.

Feed S 0 , mm/rev	Drill diameter D, mm
	2,5	4	6	8	10	12	146	20	25	32
	Cutting speed v, m/min
*When drilling steel*
0,06	17	22	26	30	33	42	—	—	—	—
0,10	—	17	20	23	26	28	32	38	40	44
0,15	—	—	18	20	22	24	27	30	33	35
0,20	—	—	15	17	18	20	23	25	27	30
0,30	—	—	—	14	16	17	19	21	23	25
0,40	—	—	—	—	—	14	16	18	19	21
0,60	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14	15	11
*When drilling cast iron*
0,06	18	22	25	27	29	30	32	33	34	35
0,10	—	18	20	22	23	24	26	27	28	30
0,15	—	15	17	18	19	20	22	23	25	26
0,20	—	—	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
0,30	—	—	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	19
0,40	—	—	—	—	14	14	15	16	16	17
0,60	—	—	—	—	—	—	13	14	15	15
0,80	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	13
*When drilling aluminum alloys*
0,06	75	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
0,10	53	70	81	92	100	—	—	—	—	—
0,15	39	53	62	69	75	81	90	—	—	—
0,20	—	43	50	56	62	67	74	82	-	-
0,30	—	—	42	48	52	56	62	68	75	—
0,40	—	—	—	40	45	48	53	59	64	69
0,60	—	—	—	—	37	39	44	48	52	56
0,80	—	—	—	—	—	—	38	42	46	54
1,00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	42

Table 2. Correction factors

Table 3. Revolutions and feeds for various drill diameters and drilling in carbon steel

Types of holes in metal and methods for drilling them

Types of holes:

deaf;
through;
half (incomplete);
deep;
large diameter;
for internal thread.

Threaded holes require the determination of diameters with tolerances established in GOST 16093-2004. For common hardware, the calculation is given in table 5.

Table 5. The ratio of metric and inch threads, as well as the selection of the hole size for drilling

Metric thread				Inch thread				Pipe thread
Thread diameter	Thread pitch, mm	Thread hole diameter		Thread diameter	Thread pitch, mm	Thread hole diameter		Thread diameter	Thread hole diameter
Thread diameter	Thread pitch, mm	min.	Max.	Thread diameter	Thread pitch, mm	min.	Max.	Thread diameter	Thread hole diameter
M1	0,25	0,75	0,8	3/16	1,058	3,6	3,7	1/8	8,8
M1.4	0,3	1,1	1,15	1/4	1,270	5,0	5,1	1/4	11,7
M1.7	0,35	1,3	1,4	5/16	1,411	6,4	6,5	3/8	15,2
M2	0,4	1,5	1,6	3/8	1,588	7,7	7,9	1/2	18,6
M2.6	0,4	2,1	2,2	7/16	1,814	9,1	9,25	3/4	24,3
M3	0,5	2,4	2,5	1/2	2,117	10,25	10,5	1	30,5
M3.5	0,6	2,8	2,9	9/16	2,117	11,75	12,0	—	—
M4	0,7	3,2	3,4	5/8	2,309	13,25	13,5	11/4	39,2
M5	0,8	4,1	4,2	3/4	2,540	16,25	16,5	13/8	41,6
M6	1,0	4,8	5,0	7/8	2,822	19,00	19,25	11/2	45,1
M8	1,25	6,5	6,7	1	3,175	21,75	22,0	—	—
M10	1,5	8,2	8,4	11/8	3,629	24,5	24,75	—	—
M12	1,75	9,9	10,0	11/4	3,629	27,5	27,75	—	—
M14	2,0	11,5	11,75	13/8	4,233	30,5	30,5	—	—
M16	2,0	13,5	13,75	—	—	—	—	—	—
M18	2,5	15,0	15,25	11/2	4,333	33,0	33,5	—	—
M20	2,5	17,0	17,25	15/8	6,080	35,0	35,5	—	—
M22	2,6	19,0	19,25	13/4	5,080	33,5	39,0	—	—
M24	3,0	20,5	20,75	17/8	5,644	41,0	41,5	—	—

through holes

Through holes penetrate the workpiece completely, forming a passage in it. A feature of the process is the protection of the surface of the workbench or tabletop from the exit of the drill beyond the workpiece, which can damage the drill itself, as well as provide the workpiece with a “burr” - a hart. To avoid this, use the following methods:

use a workbench with a hole;
put a gasket made of wood or a “sandwich” under the part - wood + metal + wood;
put a metal bar under the part with a hole for the free passage of the drill;
reduce the feed rate at the last stage.

The latter method is mandatory when drilling holes "in place" so as not to damage closely spaced surfaces or parts.

Holes in thin sheet metal are cut with spatula drills, because the twist drill will damage the edges of the workpiece.

blind holes

Such holes are made to a certain depth and do not penetrate the workpiece through and through. There are two ways to measure depth:

limiting the length of the drill with a sleeve stop;
limiting the length of the drill with an adjustable stop chuck;
using a ruler fixed on the machine;
a combination of methods.

Some machines are equipped with an automatic feed to a given depth, after which the mechanism stops. During the drilling process, it may be necessary to stop the work several times to remove the chips.

Holes of complex shape

Holes located on the edge of the workpiece (half) can be made by connecting two workpieces or a workpiece and a gasket with faces and clamping with a vise and drilling a full hole. The gasket must be made of the same material as the workpiece being processed, otherwise the drill will “leave” in the direction of least resistance.

A through hole in the corner (shaped rolled metal) is performed by fixing the workpiece in a vice and using a wooden gasket.

It is more difficult to drill a cylindrical workpiece tangentially. The process is divided into two operations: preparation of a platform perpendicular to the hole (milling, countersinking) and drilling itself. Drilling holes in angled surfaces also begins with site preparation, after which a wooden spacer is inserted between the planes, forming a triangle, and a hole is drilled through the corner.

Hollow parts are drilled, filling the cavity with a cork made of wood.

Stepped holes are produced using two techniques:

Reaming. The hole is drilled to the full depth with a drill of the smallest diameter, after which it is drilled to a given depth with drills with diameters from smaller to larger. The advantage of the method is a well-centered hole.
Reducing the diameter. A hole of maximum diameter is drilled to a given depth, then the drills are changed with a successive decrease in diameter and a hole deepening. With this method, it is easier to control the depth of each step.

1. Drilling a hole. 2. Diameter reduction

Large diameter holes, annular drilling

Obtaining holes of large diameter in massive workpieces, up to 5-6 mm thick, is a laborious and costly business. Relatively small diameters - up to 30 mm (maximum 40 mm) can be obtained using cone, and preferably step-cone drills. For holes with a larger diameter (up to 100 mm), hollow bi-metal hole saws or hole saws with carbide teeth with a center drill will be required. Moreover, the masters traditionally recommend Bosch in this case, especially on solid metal, for example, steel.

Such annular drilling is less energy-intensive, but may be more financially costly. In addition to drills, the power of the drill and the ability to work at the lowest speeds are important. Moreover, the thicker the metal, the more you want to make a hole on the machine, and when in large numbers holes in a sheet with a thickness of more than 12 mm, it is better to immediately look for such an opportunity.

In a thin-sheet blank, a large-diameter hole is obtained using narrow-toothed crowns or a milling cutter mounted on a grinder, but the edges in the latter case leave much to be desired.

Deep holes, coolant

Sometimes you need to do deep hole. In theory, this is a hole whose length is five times the diameter. In practice, deep drilling is called, requiring forced periodic removal of chips and the use of coolants (cutting fluids).

In drilling, coolants are needed primarily to reduce the temperature of the drill and workpiece, which are heated by friction. Therefore, when making holes in copper, which has a high thermal conductivity and is itself capable of removing heat, coolant can be omitted. Cast iron is drilled relatively easily and without lubrication (except for high-strength ones).

In production, industrial oils, synthetic emulsions, emulsols and some hydrocarbons are used as coolants. In home workshops you can use:

technical vaseline, castor oil - for mild steels;
laundry soap - for aluminum alloys of the D16T type;
a mixture of kerosene with castor oil - for duralumin;
soapy water - for aluminum;
turpentine diluted with alcohol - for silumin.

The universal coolant can be prepared independently. To do this, you need to dissolve 200 g of soap in a bucket of water, add 5 tablespoons of machine oil, you can use it, and boil the solution until a soapy homogeneous emulsion is obtained. Some masters use lard to reduce friction.

Processed material	Coolant
Steel:
carbonaceous	Emulsion. Sulfurized oil
structural	Sulfurized oil with kerosene
instrumental	Blended oils
alloyed	Blended oils
Ductile iron	3-5% emulsion
Cast iron	Without cooling. 3-5% emulsion. Kerosene
Bronze	Without cooling. Blended oils
Zinc	Emulsion
Brass	Without cooling. 3-5% emulsion
Copper	Emulsion. Blended oils
Nickel	Emulsion
Aluminum and its alloys	Without cooling. Emulsion. Mixed oils. Kerosene
Stainless, high temperature alloys	Mixture of 50% sulfurated oil, 30% kerosene, 20% oleic acid (or 80% sulfofresol and 20% oleic acid)
Fiber, vinyl plastic, plexiglass and so on	3-5% emulsion
Textolite, getinaks	Compressed air blowing

Deep holes can be made by solid and annular drilling, and in the latter case, the central rod formed by the rotation of the crown is broken out not entirely, but in parts, weakening it with additional holes of small diameter.

Solid drilling is performed in a well-fixed workpiece with a twist drill, through the channels of which coolant is supplied. Periodically, without stopping the rotation of the drill, it is necessary to remove it and clean the cavity from chips. The work with a twist drill is carried out in stages: first, a short hole is taken and a hole is drilled, which is then deepened with a drill of the appropriate size. With a significant depth of the hole, it is advisable to use guide bushings.

With regular drilling of deep holes, it is recommended to purchase special machine with automatic feeding Coolant to the drill and precise centering.

Drilling by marking, template and jig

You can drill holes according to the markings made or without it - using a template or a jig.

Marking is done with a punch. A hammer blow marks a place for the tip of the drill. A felt-tip pen can also mark a place, but a hole is also needed so that the tip does not move from the intended point. The work is carried out in two stages: preliminary drilling, hole control, final drilling. If the drill "left" from the intended center, notches (grooves) are made with a narrow chisel that guide the tip to a given place.

To determine the center of a cylindrical workpiece, a square piece of tin is used, bent at 90 ° so that the height of one shoulder is approximately one radius. Applying a corner from different sides of the workpiece, draw a pencil along the edge. As a result, you have an area around the center. You can find the center by the theorem - the intersection of perpendiculars from two chords.

A template is needed when making a series of parts of the same type with several holes. It is convenient to use it for a pack of thin-sheet blanks connected with a clamp. This way you can get several drilled blanks at the same time. Instead of a template, a drawing or diagram is sometimes used, for example, in the manufacture of parts for radio equipment.

The conductor is used when the accuracy of maintaining the distances between the holes and the strict perpendicularity of the channel are very important. When drilling deep holes or when working with thin-walled tubes, in addition to the conductor, guides can be used to fix the position of the drill relative to the metal surface.

When working with a power tool, it is important to remember human safety and prevent premature wear of the tool and possible marriage. In this regard, we have collected some useful tips:

Before work, you need to check the fastening of all elements.
Clothing when working on a machine or with an electric drill should not be with elements that can fall under the action of rotating parts. Protect your eyes from chips with goggles.
The drill, when approaching the surface of the metal, must already rotate, otherwise it will quickly become dull.
It is necessary to remove the drill from the hole without turning off the drill, reducing the speed if possible.
If the drill does not go deep into the metal, then its hardness is lower than that of the workpiece. Increased hardness in steel can be detected by running a file over the sample - the absence of traces indicates increased hardness. In this case, the drill must be selected from a carbide with additives and work at low speeds with a small feed.
If a small diameter drill does not fit well in the chuck, wind a few turns of brass wire around its shank, increasing the gripping diameter.
If the surface of the workpiece is polished, put a felt washer on the drill to ensure that it does not scratch even when it comes into contact with the drill chuck. When fastening workpieces made of polished or chrome-plated steel, use spacers made of fabric or leather.
When making deep holes, a rectangular piece of foam placed on a drill can serve as a measuring instrument and at the same time blow off small chips while rotating.

Metal drilling tools:

twist drill;
Kerner;
A hammer;
Protective glasses.

To reduce breakdown, drilling is performed in two stages: first with a smaller diameter drill, and then with the main one. The same method of sequential reaming is used when it is necessary to make a hole of a large diameter.

After marking the workpiece, the center of the future hole should be punched. This will prevent the drill from moving away from the set point.

For the convenience of work, the workpiece should be clamped in a bench vise or placed on a stand so that it takes a stable position. The drill is set strictly perpendicular to the surface to be drilled. This is important to avoid damage.

Cutting mode selection

Drilling metal with a drill is somewhat more difficult than wood, brick or concrete. There are also some features.

For convenience, we have combined practical advice on this type of work into step-by-step instructions.

You will need the following tools: a drill, a drill, coolant (oil is better, but water is also possible), a center punch, a hammer, goggles.
When drilling metal on a horizontal surface, we put a wooden block under the product and fix it as best as possible. When working in a vertical position, rigid fixation is extremely important, since drilling must be strictly perpendicular.
We make markings, after that, using a center punch and a hammer, we outline the center of the future hole.
Pour coolant into a small container.
We put on protective goggles.
We start drilling. Do not exert strong pressure on the drill, because it is better to work at low speeds. If the drill is powerful, then the method of short-term inclusions is suitable, until the tool has had time to gain maximum speed.
Do not forget to cool the drill as often as possible .
When drilling is not strictly perpendicular, but at an angle, it is likely that the drill will jam. If this happens, put the switch in the reverse position. So you avoid injury and do not break the drill.
If everything was done correctly, then even at home, using a low-power drill, you can drill a hole in metal up to 5 mm thick inclusive and up to 10-12 mm in diameter. More complex tasks will be discussed below.

Metal drilling work

Can you drill metal with a concrete drill?

It is possible, but this is in case of emergency for shallow holes with a small diameter. Unprofitable.

It is better to use either standard drills for metal with a steel grade R6M5 or improved - R6M5K5.

The letter K in the marking indicates that this is an alloy with the addition of cobalt. On the market you can find a drill, which is called "Cobalt". We will not vouch for all manufacturers, we only note that reviews on practical application in the vast majority of cases - positive.

How to drill with a step drill for metal?

Step drills are universal - just one can make holes of different diameters (from 2 to 40 mm). They are most effective when working with thin metal when you need to get a neat edge. They are better fixed in the cartridge, they are easier to sharpen, and therefore, with proper operation, they last longer, but they are also more expensive than usual ones. They work with the same principles, but it is easier to drill large diameter holes than with conventional twist drills.

Is it possible to drill metal with a Pobedite drill?

The principle of operation of metal drills is to cut, and crush materials with victorious soldering. Brick, concrete, stone are better suited for this. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is, of course, possible to drill metal with a concrete drill, but it will quickly become unusable and the victorious soldering will collapse.

Turnovers

What is the larger hole diameter? the lower the turnover should be. The more depth? the gradually you need to reduce the pressure on the drill. With a drill diameter of up to 5 mm, the torque should not be higher than 1200-1500 rpm.

How to drill correctly: drilling with a drill from "a" to "z"

Accordingly, 10 mm in diameter - no more than 700 rpm, 15 mm - 400 rpm.

How to drill holes in large diameter metal?

As a rule, most drills for domestic use have a power of 500 to 800W, which allows drilling holes up to 10-12 mm in diameter. In metal up to 2 mm thick, using step drills, holes up to 40 mm can be made. With a thickness of 3 mm, bimetallic crowns are better suited.

Bimetal crown

When drilling deep holes with any tool, you may sometimes need a magnet to extract the chips.

metal drilling process

Particular attention should be paid to safety, be sure to take care of your eyes from chips, and if there is a skew and jamming, immediately turn off the drill and rearrange the torque to reverse.

In a power outage or where the noise of an operating tool may disturb others ( read: when can repairs be made so as not to quarrel with neighbors?) - an ideal solution for drilling metal would be a manual mechanical drill, the so-called brace. Low speed and pressure, no overheating, just what you need. Of course, there are also disadvantages - the cost of time and fatigue. In such a simple "old-fashioned" way, you can drill holes with a diameter of up to 10 mm.

We hope our advice will be useful to you.

More information in this video.

How to drill metal with a drill

How to drill a hole in metal

Metal products, in comparison with parts made of other materials, have increased hardness and strength, therefore, for successful work with them, compliance with technological process and the use of high-quality cutting tools.

Metal drilling tools:

Electric or hand drill;
twist drill;
Kerner;
A hammer;
Protective glasses.

Drills for metal are selected based on the diameters of the holes and the properties of the material being processed. As a rule, they are made of high-speed steels, such as R6M5K5, R6M5, R4M2. Carbide drills are used to work with cast iron, carbon and alloy hardened steels, stainless steel, and other difficult-to-cut materials.

The power of the electric drill must be designed to drill a hole of the required diameter. Power tool manufacturers indicate the relevant specifications on the product. For example, for drills with a power of 500 ... 700 W, the maximum drilling diameter for metal is 10 ... 13 mm.

There are blind, incomplete, and through holes. They can be used to connect parts to each other by means of bolts, studs, pins and rivets. If the hole is drilled for the purpose of threading, special attention should be paid to the choice of drill diameter. Due to its beating in the cartridge, a breakdown of the hole occurs, which must be taken into account. Indicative data are presented in the table.

To reduce breakdown, drilling is performed in two stages: first with a smaller diameter drill, and then with the main one.

How to drill metal with a drill?

The same method of sequential reaming is used when it is necessary to make a hole of a large diameter.

How to drill metal with a drill

The peculiarity of drilling metal with a drill is that it is necessary to manually hold the tool, give it correct position, as well as provide the required cutting speed.

After marking the workpiece, the center of the future hole should be punched. This will prevent the drill from moving away from the set point. For the convenience of work, the workpiece should be clamped in a bench vise or placed on a stand so that it takes a stable position. The drill is set strictly perpendicular to the surface to be drilled. This is important to avoid damage.

When drilling metal, the drill does not need to exert much pressure. On the contrary, it should decrease as you go. This will prevent breakage of the drill and also reduce burr formation on the trailing edge. through hole. Chip removal should be monitored. If the cutting tool jams, it is released by reverse rotation.

Cutting mode selection

When using a tool made of high speed steel, you can refer to the speed according to the data in the table. When working with carbide drills, the allowable values are 1.5 ... 2 times higher.

Drilling of metal products must be carried out with cooling. If it is not used, there is a high probability that the tool will lose its cutting properties due to overheating. The cleanliness of the surface of the hole in this case will be quite low. An emulsion is usually used as a coolant for hard steels. At home, machine oil is suitable. Cast iron and non-ferrous metals can be drilled without coolant.

Features of deep hole drilling

Holes are considered deep if their size is greater than five drill diameters. The peculiarity of the work here lies in the difficulties associated with cooling and chip removal. The length of the cutting part of the tool must be greater than the depth of the hole. Otherwise, the body of the part will block the helical grooves, through which chips are removed, and liquid is also supplied for cooling and lubrication.

First, the hole is drilled with a rigid short drill to a shallow depth. This operation is necessary to set the direction and centering of the main tool. After that, a hole of the required length is made. As you progress, you need to remove metal shavings from time to time. For this purpose, use coolant, hooks, magnets, or turn the part over.

How to drill metal correctly - learn how to make holes of various diameters

Screwdrivers, drills and hammers

Metal processing is one of the rather complex operations. Drilling may be required when repairing premises or your own car, as well as manufacturing various structures in a summer cottage. As in the case of any other holes, we need a hand drill, which can be supplemented with various additional devices. Although the drill is a very popular and sought-after tool that is available in almost every home, it is required to have considerable experience in terms of metal processing. In our article we will talk about drilling metal, drills and some features of this laborious process.

When working with metal, drills made of R6M5 steel are used.

We need the following tools for working with metal:

Drill hand or electric
twist drill
A hammer
Kerner
Safety glasses and gloves

You should be aware that not all drills are able to make exactly the holes that you need. So, the manufacturer usually indicate the relevant information in the instruction manual. For example, drilling a large hole with a drill with a power of 700 W will not work. After all, this equipment is designed to create a hole with a maximum size of 13 mm in diameter.

Drilling guides allow you to securely fix the drill bit

In hardware stores, you can purchase the following mechanisms for perpendicular drilling of holes in metal products:

1. Drilling jigs
2. Drill guides
3. Drill stands

Another device that simplifies the process of making holes is called a stationary stand. At its core, this equipment is a somewhat simplified drilling machine, however, with less functionality, but also a significantly lower cost. The drill moves along the rod with a lever. Clamps or vise are used to fix the workpiece. In terms of drilling quality, this unit is an order of magnitude higher than its other competitors. However, its price is also higher compared to conductors or guides.

When drilling deep holes, timely chip evacuation is important

In the absence of guides, you can try to drill without this equipment, if you are confident in your abilities. However, it is strictly forbidden to change the drilling angle, since this can completely ruin both the drill and the workpiece.

In no case should one forget about cooling and chip removal. The easiest way is to use soapy water, in which you should first dip the tip of the drill. Some experts recommend coating the drill with vegetable oil or lard. This will significantly reduce the friction of the product against the metal and, as a result, will have the most positive effect on the cooling of the drill.

How to drill metal with a drill

Hello! About how to drill metal with a drill, if you wish, you can write very great article. But I see two main problems here:

inability to precisely drill in the place where a hole is required
quick blunting of drills

Usually inexperienced users face such problems. Experienced men know what to do in such cases. Well, considering myself experienced, I will take the liberty of telling you how to deal with these problems. Well, I will also give a few tips that will also come in handy.

How to drill in the right place

If you think a little about this question, then the answer should visit your head even without a hint. Well, it seems so to me at least. But if you don't feel like thinking, then read on.

For this case, you need a core. This is a tool made of durable steel, having a cylindrical shape and a point at the end.

We put the tip to the desired drilling site and hit the roll on the other side with a hammer several times.

Now, when you are centered, put a drill on the surface of the roughness and start drilling - the tip will not run away anywhere.

How not to dull drills

Drill bits for metal become blunt if they get too hot during operation, due to which they lose their strength. Heating is due to friction. Moreover, the faster it spins, the more it heats up.

Hence the obvious rule - you need to drill at a low speed drill. They should be no more than 1000 per minute. But who will measure this at work? Therefore, just do not press the start button to the full. The correct speed can be estimated as follows: the eye should see the rotation of the drill. That is, the grooves on it should not merge into one for vision.

When working with thick workpieces, additional cooling is indispensable. It is provided by special lubricants or pastes that are added to the drilling site, or the drill is dipped into them. In addition, they not only cool, but also lubricate the tip, thereby reducing friction.

At home, there is no need to have special lubricants and pastes. You can get by with regular engine oil.

So, use a core, drill at low speeds, and add grease or oil, and then this thing will seem like a cakewalk to you.

Well, a few more tips on this topic.

Drill types

For drilling, take only drills for metal (and not for wood, for example). They have their own sharpening and are made of certain types of steel. The most common are marked P6M5 - this is high-speed steel, which foreign manufacturers label as HSS.

To give additional strength to the above drills, a titanium nitride coating is applied. Because of what they are yellow.

There are also stronger P18s used for hard steels respectively.

Also, cobalt can be added to increase strength, and then the P6M5K5 marking is obtained.

Well, the most durable are drills with a carbide tip. They are used for drilling alloy steels. It will also take ordinary steel, but it will be somewhat prudent to buy it only for this, since the price for them is quite high, while it is solid, but still blunt. But it will be difficult to sharpen it later, since this requires a diamond blade, which is also not very cheap, and you can’t buy it everywhere.

Drilling thick workpieces

If the workpiece has a thickness of more than 5 mm, and you need a hole of more than 8 mm, then it is better to first make a hole with a thin drill, and only then work with a thick one.

Working with some types of metal

When drilling thick aluminum workpieces, chips often clog the bores of the drill, making it harder to turn. Therefore, when working with such material, take the drill out of the recess more often and remove the chips. Oh, and don't forget to drizzle with plenty of oil.
If you need to drill black cast iron, then for this you do not need to add any lubricating and cooling agents, since it is drilled very well even in the dry
Unlike black cast iron, white cast iron has increased strength, which means that strong drills and lubrication will be required for its processing.

These are the basic rules for drilling metal with a drill. I hope I managed to fill this gap in your knowledge. Good luck with your homework and see you soon!

How to drill metal with a drill?

Metal products have increased strength, so drilling a hole in metal requires the use of a cutting tool of excellent quality and compliance with the technological process.

When compared with parts made from other materials, hardware have increased strength and hardness, therefore effective work with them requires the use of cutting tools of excellent quality and compliance with the technological process.

Drilling in metal with a drill: highlights

To drill metal, you must have a manual or electric drill, a twist drill, a hammer, a center punch and goggles. Drills for metal are selected, focusing on the diameter of the holes, as well as the properties of the material being processed. They are usually made of high-speed steels, and carbide drills are used to work with alloyed and carbon steels, stainless steel, cast iron and other hard-to-cut materials.

Those who are not experienced in drilling holes in metal often wonder; how to drill a hole in metal with a drill? To drill holes of the required diameter, the electric drill must be powerful enough. Manufacturers of the tool on the product indicate the relevant characteristics. For example, in order for the hole diameter to be 10-13 millimeters, the power of the tool should be 500-700 watts.

There are through, deaf and incomplete holes.

They can be used to connect parts to each other by means of studs, bolts, rivets and pins. When drilling holes for threading, pay attention to the diameter of the drill. Since it beats in the cartridge, the hole is broken down, and this must be taken into account. The table contains approximate data.

To reduce breakdown, drilling of metal is carried out in two stages: first of all, with a drill with a smaller diameter, and then with the main one. The same method is used when it is necessary to drill a large diameter hole.

Drilling metal with a drill: how to do it?

A feature of drilling holes in metal with a drill is that you need to manually hold the tool, giving it the correct position and providing the necessary speed.

When the workpiece is marked out, it is necessary to tilt the center of the drilled hole. As a result, the drill will not move relative to the set point. To make it more convenient to work, the workpiece must be clamped in a vice or placed on a stand so that its position is stable. The drill is set perpendicular to the surface, otherwise it may break. If you drill metal with a drill, then you do not need to exert a lot of pressure on the tool. On the contrary, as you move forward, the pressure should decrease. This will reduce the chance of breakage of the drill and reduce the amount of burr on the edge of the through hole. If the cutting tool is stuck, then it is released, giving it a reverse rotation.

When using a drill made of high speed steel, refer to the RPM using the data in the table. When using carbide drills, the values should be about 1.6-2 times higher.

It is necessary to drill holes in metal products with cooling, otherwise the tool may lose its cutting properties due to overheating. The coolant when working with hard steels is usually an emulsion, but at home it is quite possible to use engine oil. As for non-ferrous metals and cast iron, when drilling them, you can do without coolant.

How to drill metal with a drill if you need deep holes? Holes can be considered deep if they are larger than five drill diameters. The main difficulties with such drilling are associated with cooling, as well as chip removal. As for the length of the cutting part of the drill, it must exceed the depth of the hole, otherwise the part will block the helical grooves designed to remove chips and supply fluid for lubrication and cooling. First, the hole is drilled to a shallow depth using a rigid short drill. This is necessary to set the direction and centering of the main tool. Then a hole of the desired length is made. When advancing, it is necessary to periodically remove metal chips using cooling liquid, magnets, hooks, or turn the part over.

Today, a person can make a blank of any shape and size from metal.

Metal drilling

This is a material that is widely used in various industries, it is indispensable in the production of mechanisms and various parts.

Today, craftsmen have dozens of tools at their disposal that allow them to cut, drill, change workpieces. Therefore, if you want to drill a hole in metal, you can do it with ease.

How to drill a large hole in metal

Making large holes is a painstaking task. For such work, it is necessary to use special crowns of the desired diameter or cone drills. Crowns designed for working with metal are similar to those for concrete or drywall.

They can have a special diamond coating for a clearer, more accurate and faster cut. For work, special cone drills are often used (they may have hexagonal or cylindrical shanks). The cutting edge can remove burrs and chips, which allows you to immediately get a smooth hole.

How to quickly drill through thick metal

If you need to drill a deep hole, it is best to give preference not to electric drills, but to lathes. Such a device provides accurate and accurate processing of materials of any thickness and strength. During operation, it is important to ensure high-quality cooling of the cutting element and forced removal of chips.

How to drill hardened metal

Hardened steel is a durable material that can withstand fairly heavy loads. That is why it is difficult to work with him. But if you need to drill hardened steel at home, you can use one of these methods:

work with a welding machine - using such a tool, you can make a hole in the product, but after that it will have to be processed with cutting tools or files. Also, using a welding machine, you can lower the steel in the impact zone, and then use a drill and make a hole of the required size;

drilling with special drills for hardened steel - the method has one significant drawback. These drills are very expensive, they are made from high carbon steel and are diamond coated. When working, it is very important to prevent overheating of the drill and strong pressure - otherwise there is a high risk of spoiling the workpiece.

If you need to make a hole in hardened steel, but you don’t have a special device, you can use other methods:

etching of steel with acid (boric, nitric, chlorine) - for work it is necessary to make a limiting rim and pour acid inside;

if the material is not very hard and thin, you can make a hole using a special punch.

How to drill stainless steel

The main difference between "stainless steel" is its increased viscosity. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Indeed, when processing stainless metal, the drill heats up almost immediately, which means that it is necessary to think over its cooling during operation. Usually, a special mixture is immediately used, which includes engine oil, sulfur.

Both an electric drill and a drilling machine can be used to process stainless steel. In both the first and second cases, it is necessary to set the device to the minimum speed. A few tips for those who want to work with stainless steel:

when working with a thick sheet of material, you must first drill a small hole with a thin tool and then use a drill with the required section;

if you are working with sheets of 1-2 mm, use standard drills, provided that their cutting edge is sharpened 120 degrees;

if the thickness is less than 1 mm, processing should be carried out with step drills.

If you decide to drill metal with your own hands at home, use these simple tips.