Drill or heat cast iron bench end

[Hopo]

Hello I have a little problem, I have required 3 late Victorian bench ends,, cast iron 12 bolt slots I managed to hack saw and knock 11 out but unfortunately the last one is rusted in and solid, I,ve tried drilling the bolt out but I,ve gone through many drill bits bought few colbats bit too tin version, I've been told to heat it would that not damage the cast and cause cracked..?

 

[Hopo]

This is my on going result

 

[American Locomotive]

Is it a through-hole?

Usually the trick with a drill is to push hard and go slow.

 

[Hopo]

Yeah through a hole (not a threaded hole), I will buy a new drill bit and go slow it probably where I'm going wrong drilling at a fast pace,I try that I let you know the results thanks

 

[txvwnut]

When drilling go slow don't push too hard, just hard enough to feel the bit doing the work and use a lubricant of some sort.

 

[Hopo]

Yeah thanks I need a decent drill bit better than the tin coated cobalt probably go for HSCO I've only got the hsso tin coated

 

[dogdog]

Yeah through a hole (not a threaded hole), I will buy a new drill bit and go slow it probably where I'm going wrong drilling at a fast pace,I try that I let you know the results thanks

make sure you get one of those high torque drills not just any 3/8 and try to go slow. Not sure why but huge difference when I drill my wheel bolts out with a 3/8 Dewalt hand drill vs a slow speed HF mixer drill . if you don't like HF you can always go for a Dewalt/Milwaukee/Ridgid the point is the drill differences. Don't know any cordless ones... My bits are just regular HF 108 bit sets... well costco sold it but probably same manufacture.

 

[larry4406]

Try a smaller drill thru the center first vs going to final size from the get go. Then step up the drill sizes. Lastly, knock the ring out with a punch.

Use a quality bit, drill, and oil as others stated. Go slow on RPM.

 

[Hopo]

Getting there going slow using higher torque impact drill using plenty of oil plus still going through drills bit hss black oxides starting on smalls then upping the size my cobalt hsco which I was recommended are wearing down not doing the job I expected..the bolt (coach bolt) was 2in I reckon I got about 4/5 mm left to go thru.. but I need new bits thanks for the feed back well appreciated...

 

[BillK]

Have you tried knocking it out since you drilled it some ? A lot of times you can drill half way through and that relieves enough pressure to knock it out with a punch.

 

[larry4406]

Why are using an impact (hammer) drill?

 

[Hopo]

Only one I got it got 3 uses hammer high torque slow speed and normal drilling... hardly used it before been in shed for ages but it done better job than my high speed Bosch

 

[Hopo]

Have you tried knocking it out since you drilled it some ? A lot of times you can drill half way through and that relieves enough pressure to knock it out with a punch.

Yeah it solid thuo bend one punch so I carry on drilling only got few mill to go thru..

 

[lilredex]

Have you tried knocking it out since you drilled it some ? A lot of times you can drill half way through and that relieves enough pressure to knock it out with a punch.

Properly supported on the back side it should drive right out with a punch and hammer...or a press if you have access to one.

 

[Hopo]

Don't have a press,,really this bolt had seriously rust welded itself to the cast,I,ve drilled both ends but can only go so far on the top side being it got curved arms above the hole so having to drill from bottom,,I get there thanks..

 

[Hopo]

Don't have a press,,really this bolt had seriously rust welded itself to the cast,I,ve drilled both ends but can only go so far on the top side being it got curved arms above the hole so having to drill from bottom,,I get there thanks..

P.s I'm thinking theses bolts are original if so dates back to being in for over 100 years

 

[Will S.]

To drill it out, use cutting fluid on the drill tip while drilling.

 

[Hopo]

Hey guy,s I managed to get through very slow process with the tools and bits I had,started with smaller bits slow and slightly pressing then upping the sizes to widen, just got thin ring of steel bolt on the edge of cast..tried knocking but still won't budge so I'm just gonna file it down, thanks again

 

[TractorJeff]

Glad you got it without breaking it. A lot of these replies stated, "knock it out". Bad Advice for ornamental cast iron! You could have heated it with no problem! It would have softened the steel with no structure effect on the cast iron.