Drilling Stainless

[cgf10]

I want to mount a nav light on the (3 or 4mm)stainless steel plate on top of my A frame. Will I need any special drill bits to make the two holes required for fixing the light mount ?

[chewy]

You shouldn't do but Cobalt/Armour piercing work well.

[cgf10]

thanks Chewy

[martini]

Agree you should get away with hss bits if theyre smallish holes. Couple of tips I would give are keep the rpm's down and apply as much pressure as you safely can instead, also get someone to squirt coolant or water on the tip, if the stainless gets too hot even James Bond won't have anything to touch it!

[cgf10]

Martini - thanks again

[willk]

Originally Posted by martini

Agree you should get away with hss bits if theyre smallish holes. Couple of tips I would give are keep the rpm's down and apply as much pressure as you safely can instead, also get someone to squirt coolant or water on the tip, if the stainless gets too hot even James Bond won't have anything to touch it!

This is top advice. I can confirm all is correct and can only wish that I had asked the question before I wrecked a swathe of destruction through my bit collection and learned this by, well, mostly error

[m chappelow]

With thin stainless plate its sometimes easier and quicker to punch a hole through than drilling it .

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by m chappelow

With thin stainless plate its sometimes easier and quicker to punch a hole through than drilling it .

Must be a hell of a punch on you.

[AndrewH]

Don't forget to use a centre punch to mark the position of the hole and stop the drill from slipping - particularly "fun" when you are applying plenty of pressure.

Also I've found the titanium coated drill bits (the gold looking ones) keep their edge a little longer when drilling stainless

Edit: just noticed you are just round the corner from me - give me a shout if you get stuck!

[rjbathgate]

i third the "slow as possible" comment... if u go too fast, the stainless will actually harden as it gets superman hot, and then be almost impossible to drill thru...

even hand drill would be good...