how to drill stainless steel
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- Опубліковано 31 жов 2016
- In this video I will show you how to drill stainless steel with regular drill bits and hole saws. Drilling stainless steel is not as difficult as you may think and you don't need special drill bits like some will tell you. The trick to drilling stainless steel is in the speed of the drill bit. Keep the speed low. Drilling at to high of a speed will cause to much heat and dull the drill bit immediately.
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Wow. I break my drill bit every single time. Because I've been doing the maximum speed. I used to think the quicker the better for the drill bit. Thank you for this
Coming back to say thanks & confirm cooling works. Used a hand pump garden sprayer w/ water and drilled 16 small holes on a stainless wall with one bit. Never dulled. Awesome!
Thanks for coming back and commenting! The key to stainless steel, low speed and keep it cool!
I can't tell you how many bits I've broken and dulled trying to drill stainless!! Thanks for this!
Glad to help!
When you see smoke or you hear squeaking while drilling stainless steel you know you're about to get in trouble. These are the two signs that you're creating heat that will ruin your drill bit. Oil it and slow down.
Thank you Larry!
The heat causes the ss to harden.
and discolor
@@MrEh5 That's what I thought was going on. There was one hole that I couldn't get through and I was thinking overheating had hardened what was left to drill out.
Thank you. Simple and clear. Everyone else's explanation and demonstration was unnecessarily complicated
Thanks for your help bro!!
I just used your info to drill a hole in my sink for a water filter, after burning a bunch of bits on high speed.
God bless!!
It's really cool to watch your video, it helps me a lot to drill a bunch of holes on my stainless steel bracket for an island kitchen range hood. Excellent job, Joe!
Glad it helped!
This video is god sent. I tried it and the bit went through like a hot knife through butter, thanks!
thank you i tried your method and drilled through the 18th plate in a matter of seconds
Thanks for the video. I am planning to drill an additional hole on my new kitchen sink and hope this would help.
Thanks for the tip, spent 6 hours drilling 1” thick 3/8 holes other day and that was my problem
Great technique. Thanks a lot sir.
Thank you
You're welcome!
I’m installing a pocket clip on my folding knife . Your info helped a lot …. Thanks😊
You're welcome!
Wrong method. Cool the bit with water as you drill. Your bits will last much longer. I destroyed many bits using oil before I learned the water trick.
The cooler you keep it the longer the bit will last. The trick is slow with heavy pressure and plenty of cutting fluid to keep it cool. If you drill to fast you heat the stainless and work harden the hole.
Exactly ! You'll be able to feel it as well.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe do 740 rpm slow enough?
I watched this video about two days too late. Ended up having jagged edges. Now I know! Thank you!
I gave up drilling on SS..... then I saw this video.
HMMM! HMMMMMMMM!
Will try your tips.
The one thing I remember when learning to drill is that torque is your friend and of course heat is your enemy. So you must use heat displacement as in cutting oil, WD 40, Anchor lube, Water. Anything but dry.
I prefer apple sauce. Keeps it nice and cool
Damn it I was using maximum speed
I think the friction will cause heat, rather than the other way around :-). The metal then hardens, which dulls the drill. Anyway, great tutorial, it was really helpful to me.
You are definitely correct! In my defense i was new at making videos and it was difficult to concentrate on all the steps that it takes to produce a video. Even now its easier however i still make mistakes. Thanks for going easy on me!
Everybody wrong….start by center punching. Next use a 1/8 or approx bit and drill at a med speed maintaining light pressure with only a drop of cutting oil. Open hole up to desired size progressively with larger bits. Hole saw usage should be in a drill press or any method that will offer straight even pressure. I’ve been working around stainless for almost 38 years. I’ve hand drilled 1 1/8” holes in 1/2” thick 304 sst with a cordless Milwaukee drill without any problems. Once the bit starts cutting, maintain steady speed and pressure. Use you body as a brace and you won’t get the pull trough twist that can scare you
Excellent tutorial. Thank you.
Cutting oil is the ticket. 👍
310S stainless steel and 6Al4V Ti are actually my favorite metals
Very cool! You solved a great issue for me. Thanks.
You're welcome!
Thank you sir, you are the true master of metal working skill.i learn a lot from you.again i am very pleased to you .
Hi excellent demonstration which company drill bits is good for drilling in metal
I wish I watched this first. I had a hell of a time drilling through my sink. Got the job done but I decided to look it up after to see the right way. I thought I was doing it right by using oil and drilling fast. Nope. Lol
Great video.
Thank you. I`ve been burning up drill bits like there`s no tomorrow.
Your next video should be on how one should never use their hands to wipe off metal debris after a milling job. It will probably save someone a lot of agony ;)
Some of us have legit ass skin on our fingers. I would do the same. My skin is just so damn thick it doesn’t matter.
Thank you, this video was very informative
You're welcome!
Outstanding...! I was doing it all wrong slow and steady... Now to get a new set of bits as I've dulled most of mine:)
Resharpen them.
Not sure what sort of stainless steel he is drilling, but it looks an awfully lot like a piece of a galvanized steel stud to me>
Thank you! ☺
slow speed n oil are definite necessity but I gotta say that mush be some really low grade stainless!
Thanks a lot for the video!
Agreed.
I finally had to drill 316.. and it humbled me. 304 is tough. UT not 316 tough.
Thanks, glass and s.s. are the most pain to drill, by far- so true. What's the rpm (setting on the adjustable drill)?
Can you submerge it in water, while you drill, instead of using cutting oil or cutting paste?
Stainless, chipped my cobalt bit (cobalt bits, especially the thick ones are very expensive).
God bless, Rev. 21:4
thanks joe.
You're welcome!
Thank you sir,appreciated
You're welcome!
Job done! Thanks to you!
Thank you!
As far as pressing it the material is stiff at low pressure but once it yields it is highly formable.
I should have come here first. Even ordinary hole saws! I wouldn't have dreamed of doing such a thing. Who knew? Thanks for ending my quest for the miracle drill.
I use a brand new bit and dont use to much speed. If you try to go to fast the bit will dull very quickly. I've had pretty good luck with sharpening the holesaw as well. I've had to drill holes in hospital grade stainless and used regular bits. I drilled 10 holes with the same bit before it broke a tooth and dulled out. Good luck!
thank you
Excellent advice and video. I just drilled through a stainless sink top to add a water filter. First drilled with 5/16" bit and followed up with 1/2" bit. Key is slow speed and oil and a bit more pressure than with a softer steel. You do not need an expensive "cobalt" bit. Thanks
Also remember the harder you press the faster it will drill, at very low drill speeds you can quickly get through.
Very handy, thank you.
My sugestion, try Fein KBH 25! It take 25 sec.
THANK YOU!
Thanks!!!
Did you sharpen that hole saw when you got done?
I bought drilling fluid, new bits and tried to drill holes in a stainless door protector. I didn-t scratch the surface.??
where were you 20 years ago. You are my savior. P.S. I saw a video with another guy drilling stainless steel sheet metal, and he says to use water instead of oil. That some old timer taught him this after 30 years of doing it the other way.
How does it drill with water? Never tried that.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe check out this youtube video. I haven't tried it yet myself, but I assume that it must be true, the guy seems knowledgable. ua-cam.com/video/FMzIHl1HMXc/v-deo.html
@@joeygarcia1971 thanks
A TIP :Drilling stainless steel can be expensive because o drills cost a fortune and wear quick, to fix my problem i used a plasma cutter to blast a minute hole in stainless steel then used standard drill to open hole to right size works a treat quick and cheap. Give it ago. Ckeers
Hi Joe perfect video is titanium coated drill bits are good for drilling metal or black oxide coated once are good or u suggest me which one is good for drilling in metal
Both will drill through metal just fine, however the titanium will last longer. If you drill with top speeds, they will both dull quickly. Find a speed where the bit will cut best at. Start out slow and increase speed gradually. You will start to see the bit cutting at slower speeds. The perfect speed will be when you start seeing ribbons of metal while cutting. The bit will cut at higher speeds but the increased friction will cause more heat and dull the drill bit. The rule of thumb with bits are, the smaller the bit the faster the speed. The larger the bit, the slower the speed. Hope this helps! I know how to sharpen my bits with a grinder so i can push them a little past their limits.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe Thanks a lot
I think I am missing something. I’m using a high speed drill bit, lower speed, corded (read: plenty of torque) drill, and oil - in my case, nothing special, just 10w-40. This combination has prevailed every time I’ve drilled holes in metal. It worked earlier for me today, in fact. Not so for stainless steel. I *might* be a millimeter in after 30+ minutes of drilling. I *might* I’ve tried several bits too, and made sure they were sharp (one at least was unused). Is there anything else I might be missing?
Ok, you use normal bore or for inox
It apparently depends on the grade of the stainless steel. I used a brand-new 1/8" Milwaukee split-point cobalt bit as a starter to drilling 1/4" holes in 18 ga. stainless steel kick plates and got 3 holes done in a half hour, ruining bits along the way. The bits never overheated and I carefully followed all of the recommendations here re: speed, pressure, etc.
I'm thinking the same because I cannot for the life of me get through this metal, it's barely doing a dent
Same, slow speed, pressure, cobalt tips. Barely doing anything. Must be some high grade steel...
I was asked t put up some stainless hooks, I had to give up trying to drill through the 2mm plate because every 3mm hole cost me at least one drillbit. A half dozen HSS/ tungsten /specialty bits that I have use at least dozens of times on all kinds of materials, completely ruined. On towel hooks.
hes not drilling stainless unless its a shit grade, even with cobalt m42 it takes forever
if you heat up the drill by going fast the steel will harden and you will not be able to drill throguht it. he is drillng through non heat treated steel.
OK you made it look easy. Your first twist drill example, I guess used a quality well sharpened HSS/Co drill & you were able to apply plenty of down force (not mentioned by you) Keep the drill steady & control the speed better than I can even with a pro Bosch drill. Most times a centre pop will be needed to get started but need care not over d that or the stainless will work harden.
The large hole cut with a plain toothed hole saw I would not have believed. Even more critical is steadiness, speed control & great care on break out. I doubt many could do this even with your comments in mind.
Another advantage i have is i can sharpen my own drill bits if they do get dull. I sharpen them with a mini grinder or a belt sander. I must confess as I'm getting older it is harder to see the angle i need to sharpen the bits with on a belt sander that i find myself using a drill doctor if someone has them laying around. I'm not a machinist, I am a carpenter and the company i work for builds a lot of schools , occasional hospital, and other buildings that have high end industrial and commercial kitchens in them and i install a ton of door hardware, We have to do this quick so the company makes money. I've learned a lot of tricks along the way and like to share them. Thanks for the comment!
What i find more difficult is threading stainless steel.
What oil are you using while drilling? Is it mobil or anything else ?
A thread cutting oil
What’s the type of fluid oil you are using?
I was using cutting oil. You can get that from Menards and Home Depot
Nice & Thanks :)
You're welcome!
Will this method work for a chunk of stainless thats say 3" long?
it should, just make sure you cool down the material and the drill bit. I have an advantage, I can sharpen a drill bit on a mini grinder so i can be more aggressive the the drill bit.
Totally agree with this however I find you still have to put quite a lot of force on the drill. This is fine for larger drills but Im struggling with 1/8 size especially where I cant get a lot of pressure on the drill like in a cabinet. Any tips. I am using subby drills which as less susceptible to snapping with drill wobble but I still have to put more pressure than I can
Me too! I'm trying to drill a stainless steel strawbler tumbler. I need an 1/8" hole to add lights to it. It's not drilling into the insulated part of the tumbler. There's an area at the bottom. It's making me crazy!
@@basil5880 What I found helped slightly was to put a good center punch mark to try and dent the material so a little more of the drill tip contacts the metal.
@@campbellmorrison8540 thank you! I'm trying everything! I did have a hard time with the starting point! That helped!
Is cutting oil a special oil or can I use any oil like 3 in 1?
cutting oil is a special oil. 3 in 1 and most oils will work in a pinch. Its mostly just for cooling. Keeping the speed down is the most important thing. I've heard of guys using chain saw bar oil and mixing it 50:50 with kerosene and Its supposed to be equal to what they use in machine shops. If its all you have (3 in 1) use it.
As a machine tool expert , its really good advice and teaching video
Well done
Got a problem, Joe. Bought some replacement electric burners and two spokes on each are too short and the burner doesn’t stay level. I bought some steel to extend the spokes with, or so I thought! The existing spokes are stainless steel and I - cannot- drill- through them using your technique with very sharp or new bits. You didn’t mention what grade of SS you were drilling. Hardness can vary a lot. Is it possible that these SS spokes have become work hardened? Or can an abrasive be added to the slurry to help cut the SS? I’m getting no chips at all, just a fine dust. I’m at a loss!
That was a medical grade ss. It was cut off a leg from a table attachment. You didn't mention if you used slow speeds. If you went to fast the drill bit will not cut. It may be work hardened. Whether or not an abrasive can be added I'm not sure. You can try. If you do try, please comment on whether it worked or not, or if you figured out went wrong.
What kind of drill bit did you use? I tried slow speed , oil with cobalt bit into 304 stainless and it didn’t even make a dent.
Its a Vermont American drill bit, brand new. The stainless I drilled into was hospital grade stainless. It was part of a leg we cut down on a cabinet. I will say I have had better luck sharpening my drill bets on less of an angle. I sharpen my own drill bits when they get dull.
I m an ironworker and we drill a lot of stainless and our trick is to keep the bit cool and we use water to do that and drill 50 to 60 holes before it’s time to sharpen the bit
I was working with iron workers about 2 months ago. I heard about that on UA-cam and asked one of them about using water and thats what they do as well. Might be time to make another video!
There must be a dozen different liquids to use I think that going slow is the common denominator. I don’t know what is best but I think another video would be great. Maybe try water and soap. I think the other thing is keeping the bit cool.
I love how he says " I had to switch batteries " followed directly with the sound of the chuck loosening and then tightening......didn't look like you were going slow with the smoke and squeaking from the hole saw.
I been trying to drill through SS with cobalt bit slow and cooling but still wont work
Broke two bits because I was doing it at high speed. I'm going to try this! but I don't have this special oil you're using. Can I use water or mineral oil instead?
You can try it. If it cuts then go for it. I have heard of people using water.
the problem is it is very gummy and it transfers heat much better than the drill bit so afther a while the drill tip heats and softens
thanks friend, This video is a good help to me .
this is excellent - keep it slow and lubricated - how about pressure - do you press hard while cutting ?
yeah, I give it pressure but I don't over do it. You can tell if you are giving it enough pressure.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe thanks - i destroyed a few drill bits doing it the wrong way 😀
What kind of cutting oil do you use?
You don't need specific oil for this job. Use any engine oil or smal can of ordinery mechanical oil you can find in DIY shop
It just help the drill bit cool down and smoth cutting that can maximize your drill bit life
Not just any oil. Sulfur based oils are ok for drilling stainless. The very best is molybdenum sulfide based but it is about 50 USD for a bottle. The role of oil here is to prevent the chips from welding to the bit. If you must use a handdrill, it is very helpful to step drill. Start with a small size and work up. A split point bit greatly reduced the pressure needed. Most 300 and 400 series stainless steels need to be drilled with 20 surface feet per minute or slower. Exceptions are 303 and 416 which is ok at 60 to 80 sfpm.
Look at the very thin piece of steel he is going through yes a regular bit if Sharp can do this but try a thick piece of stainless steel pipe. I bought a brand new titanium drill bit & it wouldn't work so after 30 minutes & barely scratching the surface it was time to go with a new Cobalt drill bit.
You dont need fancy drill bits or anything, a normal HSS bit is perfect for cutting stainless steel. its all about going slow and applying alot of pressure. Always start with a small bit (5mm or less, i like 4mm) then open it out to the size you require.
ua-cam.com/video/Fu6Mdrp8fy8/v-deo.html
^this video demonstrates proper metal drilling perfectly
These vids are annoying me too. "How to drill through stainess steeI" every vid is has a piece of paper thin SS in it. I have been trying to drill through 50mm of SS. Following all the advice. I cant get a 10mm hole. I started at 3mm. then 6mm, 8mm and my 10mm drill will not do it lol. Thats a 2mm difference! Fuck SS im buying some mild steel and will find a way to protect it.
A bit off topic, but what about cutting with an angle grinder? Just one pretty high speed is all I have. Oil for that too?
you can cut with an angle grinder with out oil. The problem you will have is the heat from the grinder will leave burn marks. If this doesn't matter then cut with it.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe ok I think that will work.Thanks!
Hi ! what oil is that? umm, is that the used engine oil?
Can you use a titanium bit?
yes you can. Just wanted to show that you dont need one if you dont have one.
Thanks! I think that the biggest mistake that I’ve seen here on UA-cam from most people posting videos on cutting stainless steel is that they were going max speed.
That's right. Even with the best drill bit speed is the key. In fact drilling any steel speed is a factor. the bigger the drill bit the slower the speed.
What bit are you using sir?
I believe its a Vermont American. Hitachi and Irwin Drill bits work well too.
Stainless steel is actually soft the problem is using high cutting speeds and low feed rates. The tool work hardens the material then on the next pass the cutting edge is destroyed. If you cut deeper you cut soft material instead of work hardened material.
I agree with you on that!
Pro tip..Slow as possible and continuous oil keep the bit cold.. not squeaking and smoke, enough pressure to make a shaving.. SLOW and YOU GO and OIL the hole.. Cutting OIL is s must. otherwise the video is good.
Wish I had watched this b4 attempting with no knowledge. What is cutting oil? If I don't have any, what is a good substitute?
cutting oil. I have a link in the description or You can get it at the hardware store or at any of the big home improvement stores. If you do buy cutting oil don't get worried if you see that it's clear. Some of the new cutting oils are clear and some are a dark color. Unfortunately the clear oil is more expensive.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe Wowzer, that is expensive. Isn't there a substitute I could use that, maybe, I have on hand. I was so glad to watch ur video because I tried to cut through a cheap ss stock pot n it wouldn't budge. I was wondering if maybe my muscles had atrophied or something LOL
@@sandyseas8355 its only $15
@@s1v3bid you must make more than I do 🤨
@@sandyseas8355i would use wd-40, but it is $3..
A lot depends on the grade of stainless and use a brush to remove scarf it hot and sharp
What size bit are you using?
It's either a 3/16 or 1/4 inch
I am a single female who believed Webstaurant Supply's video that said drilling holes through their 16 gauge ss was "easy" to do. Not. Any help will be appreciated. Do you have to use a larger bit size? I have a SS shelf to attach to the underside of a SS work table. So far my cobalt bits (1/16" and 1/8") that I've purchased at the advice of hardware stores and other places will not go through the SS. HELP!
Make sure the bit is sharp or new. I believe the bit i am using is 1/4 inch. Make sure you're not using high speed on the drill. Start out really slow and pick up the speed little by little. As soon as you see it starting to cut the metal thats the speed you want to maintain. High speed is your enemy. Make sure you use cutting oil. The piece of ss i am using in the video is from a nursing home leg that had to be cut down.
You need a split point bit. Start with your smallest size. This reduces the pressure needed for penetration. Then use progressively bigger bits till you reach the size you need. That sheet metal stainless on food equipment is strain hardened on the surface from rolling when it was manufactured. I usually start with a bit smaller than 1/16 when hand drilling on sheet stainless. Speed on that would be 600 rpm estimated. Should penetrate pretty easy with a pro quality split point bit.
Hello. PLEASE tell me which drill bit you used. My stainless steel is a little thicker than yours. I bought a Milwaukee 5/32" Cobalt drill bit and it took, don't laugh ONE HOUR to drill one hole. I dipped it in ice every 10 seconds and put oil in hole every 5 minutes. I had to stop after ONE HOUR because the drill got hot. HELLLLP!!! :=(
Thanks for your attention.
The problem seems to me was the bit getting hot. The bit i used was a vermont american bit. The main trick is the speed of the bit. If the bit over heats it will not cut. I've had to drill through 3/16 thick stainless and had no problems. When i did have a problem i had the speed of the drill bit to high and it turned the tip of the drill bit blue. I use a Makita variable speed drill and set the speed to number 1 which is a slow speed and high torque setting. I hope this helps and i am sorry it took so long to get back to you. I was on vacation at Niagara Falls and did not have my computer with me.
in addition to what Joe has told you
please be aware that there are so many grades of SS and they do vary a lot in their hardness, some of them are really hard to drill and might need a carbide drill bit.
before trying anything you should indeed know which grade you are dealing with
Just use a tungsten carbide bit. Widely available. Affordable. Reusable. Economical. Efficient.
What material of drill bit you are using ?
I believe that one is a cobalt bit
@@Doityourselfwithjoe thank you
What is that oil again? what if you apply ice to cool the bit
It doesn't work the same way. I have heard of some people that use water in the same way as the oil. Personally i have never tried that. The oil is called cutting oil. You can get it from ace hardware or Menards. It is usually found in the plumbing isle.
What kind and brand drill bits u use? And what thats black oil😮
I use Irwin and Milwaukee brand drill bits and just about any kind of cutting oil. I have links in the description.
@@Doityourselfwithjoe tanks vrry help
In indonesia very hard to get irwin and milwauke drill bit 😅
@@arsyahrifai777 Vermont drill bits will work as well.
That's great for that consumer stainless, but for industrial and restaurant your not going to get it that easy.
Believe it or not, this was a piece from a kitchen in a hospital that the company that i work for built. Pretty sure that is industrial grade. If it wasn't then someone got ripped off.
Can i use any oil?
To be honest,,,, I've never tried it. Some people have used water.
from what I understand water is actually a better lubricant and coolant than oil. oil gets hot from the friction and actually Burns of creating more heat and your bit dulls faster.
Sorry. This is just wrong. The primary property you are looking for is lubrication, not cooling. You need oil, and it needs to be cutting oil, not just any oil. So called soluble oil is sometimes used in production but plain cutting oil is better in my experience. I run the machine shop in a food plant and I drill this stuff five days a week.
@@channelview8854 then why is it that EVERYONE else tell you to use water when drilling through glass, ceramics, etc.. why is it then they recommend on the bits that you buy to use water and NOT oil to extend the life of your bit? I'm not saying you're wrong. just saying that in different applications water is a better solution than oil.
@@marytramp5678 Because I understand this discussion to be specific to drilling metals, and especially stainless steels. The materials you named make no chips that try to weld themselves to the cutting tool, in this case a twist drill. Cutting oils have enough film strength to keep chips from welding and sticking to the tool. Stainless steels as a class and other "exotic metal" have the most demanding requirements for cutting fluids. I hope this helps.
Fun fact.. the drillbit used to predrill was cobalt... thats not a titanium coated hss they are more yellowish.
Well done!
But lucky you, you're using quite a robust drill bit. Smaller-diameter bits keep flexing, missing the center punch, and breaking!
You are right about that. I have that problem too. Takes much longer to drill.
show me the holesaw after 20 times always easy witha new holesaw
One hole new drill bit 😄
What is type of oil ?
cutting oil. The new cutting oil is now clear and a little more expensive.
Never wipe swarf with fingers! Never! Great video, however. Use two tie downs minimum, too!
"Do it yourself with Joe", if you are doing it with Joe you are not just doing it yourself...
Gerardo Peña Pérez, hilarious.
That's a play off the old George Carlin joke about self-help books. If you used a self-help book, you're not doing it yourself - you had help! Funny!
Water has much better cooling properties than cutting oil , it needs cooling more than lube. Give it a try, you will be surprised how much better it works with stainless.
I will try it next time i drill stainless. Thanks for the reply!
Book says that ideal metal cutting, in general, needs both: cooling + lubrication. SS is considered one of the hard metals, so applying the rules does really help to speed up the job as well as keep the drill bit cool and sharp for a few extra minutes of work. A blend of oil+water is great. However, continuous mixing is required to keep the blend.
Why is there so much runout in your hole saw?