Drilling thru stainless steel....
Thread Starter
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,927
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Drilling thru stainless steel....
Do I need a special drill bit?
Last edited by Jughead; Aug 17, 2004 at 04:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
As others have said - a good sharp high speed steel bit (cobalt ?) and some lube.
Also, start small and work up to the larger diameter.
I use a tapered ream to clean up drill holes in thin stock - up to about 1/2" diameter hole.
Also, start small and work up to the larger diameter.
I use a tapered ream to clean up drill holes in thin stock - up to about 1/2" diameter hole.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Make sure you have a sharp one, use cutting/drilling paste or oil (is it called that?) and center punch the hole. With blunt bits the hole will get real ugly.
Good sharp drill, cutting fluid and slow speed and it is no problem.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
A carbon drill will do it but it will dull out quickly. A cobalt drill will do the job much better. Use a slow speed and keep pulling a chip. S.S. will work harden quickly if you use to much speed or don't keep penetrating. Use a good cutting fluid and you should have no problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Originally Posted by SHAKERATTLEROLL
NH Vette there you go Cobalt is the only type of drill to use for hard stuff. They are expensive but they work like a regular drill going through wood. 
totally true
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
do NOT start small and work up. This only causes stress on the larger drill bit and will cause the hole to be less round as well as ruin the edge ogf the larger drill bit.
Divide 320/diameter to get a good cutting speed. Use a drill press and oil for best result.
I smoked a Milwauke holeshooter drill before I learned the above. Then, it cut like butter!
Divide 320/diameter to get a good cutting speed. Use a drill press and oil for best result.
I smoked a Milwauke holeshooter drill before I learned the above. Then, it cut like butter!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 14
From: CA
Originally Posted by Gordonm
A carbon drill will do it but it will dull out quickly. A cobalt drill will do the job much better. Use a slow speed and keep pulling a chip. S.S. will work harden quickly if you use to much speed or don't keep penetrating. Use a good cutting fluid and you should have no problem.
The harder the metal, the slower the speed. You will be doing ok if you are getting a nice continous bur/chip. If the bit starts squelling you are going too fast.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 2
From: Flanders NJ
Stainless steel is not a hard steel, unless its a 400 series. Regular drill bits (sharp) with a cutting oil work just fine. People think Stainless Steel is stronger than carbon steel but it's not, unless you go into the 400 series witch has carbon in it & will also rust. Most S/S is 300 series. Buy the way, using carbon steel bits can leave small particals in the Stainless and cause rust spots latter on. Sorry about ranting on!
Gordonm has the right idea.
Gordonm has the right idea.
