Help drilling holes

[woody367]

I have a piece of 2"x2"x1/4" mild steel tube I need to drill "14", 1/2" holes straight thru. I only have a 1/2" corded and cordless drill to use. I have tap magic to use but need to get good bits to use. What brand bits should I buy Drill America? I figure I need 1/8, 3/8 and 1/2" bits. Also how do I know what speed and pressure with a hand drill. I would like the 1/8" bit to be long enough to drill strait thru then flip it over for the larger holes. Any input would be great. This is why I need to buy a drill press. LOL

 

[Beerhippie]

I have a piece of 2"x2"x1/4" mild steel tube I need to drill 14 1/2" hole straight thru. I only have a 1/2" corded and cordless drill to use. I have tap magic to use but need to get good bits to use. What brand bits should I buy Drill America? I figure I need 1/8, 3/8 and 1/2" bits. Also how do I know what speed and pressure with a hand drill. I would like the 1/8" bit to be long enough to drill strait thru then flip it over for the larger holes. Any input would be great. This is why I need to buy a drill press. LOL

Yep. I know some great tricks for drilling straight through the near-exact center of a pipe (or rod) on a drill press.

Your chances of not breaking a long-shank 1/8" bit in a hand-held drill? Ever seen a glacier in the Sahara?

 

[PCustoms]

I have a piece of 2"x2"x1/4" mild steel tube I need to drill "14", 1/2" holes straight thru. I only have a 1/2" corded and cordless drill to use. I have tap magic to use but need to get good bits to use. What brand bits should I buy Drill America? I figure I need 1/8, 3/8 and 1/2" bits. Also how do I know what speed and pressure with a hand drill. I would like the 1/8" bit to be long enough to drill strait thru then flip it over for the larger holes. Any input would be great. This is why I need to buy a drill press. LOL

Define "straight" through....what's your tolerance to the pin?

I would carefully mark each side and drill from the outside in in 2 places.

 

[LeeG]

1. Get a drill guide, such as the one from Gator Tools
2. Center punch each hole
3. Get the Astro turbostep drills or the similar ones by Viking
4. Using the drill guide, line up the 1/2” hole on a punch mark
5. Clamp the drill guide to the tubing
6. Drill through both sides in 1 setup

Try not to drill through the weld seam. Use cutting oil, and as much pressure as you can. Slow speed on the drill.

Lee

 

[BurtEggley]

I once worked in a machine shop and still can't drill holes perfectly straight by hand and eye, not to mention the occasional drill grabbing or broken bit. That is why they have drill presses. If you have to do it by hand follow the last few suggestions say drilling the hole on each side, and pick up three each of the drill bits in black oxide from McMaster Carr. Better make sure that 1/2" drill chuck is really 1/2" and not 3/8".

 

[alfadan]

Pilot hole is not absolutely necessary on 1/2" or less drills.

Find a friend with a drill press. Be careful.

 

[Copymutt]

Now you have an excuse to buy a drill press Officially sanctioned by GJ.

 

[The Cobbler]

if you need accuracy without a drill press, I would mark & drill a pilot hole from both sides , then final drill from one side to align the holes .

 

[Jgaz]

Big Gator Tools for sure.

Big Gator Tools

Precision Tools for Professional Results

biggatortools.com

 

[Rusted Nut]

Not something I would drill by hand, good way to get tendonitis. Get a drill press, or take it to a machine shop for $30.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

To estimate the speed of the drill mark one side of the drill chuck with a paint marker. The faster you go the faster it will flash. If you can count the flashes you could probably go faster it is just a solid blur you should slow down. Also watch the material being removed. You want to be making spirals or chips. If it is more like grains you are going too fast or should increase pressure.

 

[woody367]

They a for half inch bolts to go through and the tube will then be bolted to the frame of the truck, so I will have to drill holes in the frame also. I am looking on facebook marketplace to see what's out there.As far as the drill press goes. Does not need to be super accurate drilling through. Just want to keep it as straight as possible. Thank you

 

[PCustoms]

They a four half inch bolts to go through and the tube will then be bolted to the frame of the truck, so I will have to drill holes in the frame also. I am looking on facebook marketplace to see what's out there.As far as the drill press goes. Does not need to be super accurate drilling through. Just want to keep it as straight as possible. Thank you

If there's 4 bolts, why do you need to drill 14 holes?

 

[woody367]

D*** auto correct for

 

[strength_and_power]

1. Search drill presses in FB marketplace in your area.
2. Make deal and pick up said drill press
Orient tubing so weld seam side isn’t a side you need to drill through.
3. Using a combo square, scribe a line on the centerline of the tubing. Check for center from both sides and adjust square as needed.
4. Repeat on other side
5. Use combo square to verify cut edges of tubing is square.
6. Measure and mark your spacing for your holes.
7. Center punch at the intersecting lines on one side
I prefer 3/16” for my pilot holes, 980 rpm or so. The 3/16” bit deflects noticeably less than 1/8”. Drills a lot more holes
8. With a 3/16” bit, I’m ok with enough stick out to drill both sides. By marking both sides, you can see how much deflection you are getting. If it’s too much, center punch the other side and drill from both sides.
9. Slow the drill down to around 540 rpm and drill to 1/2”
Cutting oil is never a bad thing but the world won’t end if you don’t use it.
Norseman drill bits have good bang for the buck.
Something mid level from McMaster Carr would be fine. $2-3 bucks for the 3/16” and $13-15 for the 1/2” would get you decent bits.

Feed pressure: look at the swarf and listen to the motor. Long strands are what you are looking for. If the strands are blue, you are using too much pressure. If the motor bogs down, too much pressure. If the bit is howling/ screeching, it’s dull.

The constant speed and even pressure of a drill press will extend the life of drill bits a ridiculous amount. I’ve had bits drill over 12,000 holes and never were sharpened..

 

[strength_and_power]

They a for half inch bolts to go through and the tube will then be bolted to the frame of the truck, so I will have to drill holes in the frame also. I am looking on facebook marketplace to see what's out there.As far as the drill press goes. Does not need to be super accurate drilling through. Just want to keep it as straight as possible. Thank you

If you are drilling holes in a frame rail, a mag drill is a great way to make those. What’s better than a drill press? A drill press and a mag drill.
Both drill presses I’ve owned came from either marketplace of Craigslist. $150-250 will get you something decent.

 

[RoninB4]

-Problems you'll encounter followed by possible solutions:
1) Drilling "straight" through......use a drill press or milling machine. I wouldn't attempt this with a hand drill
2) Alignment of holes through center and each other......use a jig/fixture for this because the drill will wander on both sides
3) Drill breaking.....this is a big problem as the drill bit will want to "grab" as it breaks through each side of the tube. When it does "grab" there's a big chance (for 1/8") that it will break. The 1/2" will either break or ****** that hand drill out of your grasp and possibly injuring your wrist. There's a specific feed technique when the drill bit breaks through what's being drilled and it's not easily done with a hand drill. Drilling through hollow round objects is one of the worst things to attempt with a hand drill, going up to 1/2" is asking for trouble if you don't have the experience to know what can/will happen.

Is it possible to do this? Sure. Would I want to do this with a hand drill? Nope, not even if you paid me to. Would I advise you to attempt this without a drill press and a fixture? NO. Best solution for the OP? Take it to a machine shop and pay them. It will be less cost than a drill press and a new set of drills (that will dull or break).

 

[rsparks64]

Big Gator Tools for sure.

Big Gator Tools

Precision Tools for Professional Results

biggatortools.com

Wow. l looked them up. I could have used that a number of times on metal or wood, flat or tubular. A lot of good ideas and knowledge here.

 

[Jgaz]

Wow. l looked them up. I could have used that a number of times on metal or wood, flat or tubular. A lot of good ideas and knowledge here.

Yes sir! When I retired I had almost 2/3’s of a bread pan of one off drill and tap guides. I left them with a buddy when I took my boxes home.
Bought some Big Gator Drill Guides and haven’t missed my old ones yet.

 

[tinmanwpk]

We generally use any old oil for drilling, including used motor oil. Just keep it "wet".

 

[PoorUB]

I have been doing metal fabrication for decades and I wouldn't try drill holes in tubing with a hand drill and expect them to be straight and true. It is tough enough to do it with a drill press!

 

[whateg01]

Pilot hole is not absolutely necessary on 1/2" or less drills.

Find a friend with a drill press. Be careful.

Unless it's a split point, I don't see anybody starting a 1/2" still in the right spot by hand

 

[alfadan]

Unless it's a split point, I don't see anybody starting a 1/2" still in the right spot by hand

By hand, they ain't doing it with any size pilot drill either.

 

[b-dog]

Does not need to be super accurate drilling through. Just want to keep it as straight as possible. Thank you

Doesn't have to be perfect? Just go gitrdun! I don't enjoy it but drilling 1/4" mild steel with a hand drill certainly isn't the end of the world that some people are eluding.

Drilling from both sides will probably be simplest but will only be as good as your layout. Use a scribe for laying out your holes more precisely than a sharpie.

The biggest problem I've had drilling from 1 side is the drill bit walking when you try to start drilling on the 2nd/other side. I've had mediocre results drilling the first side 3/8 then using a long 3/8 starting/spotting drill, lightly, to establish a dimple on the other side. I only say 3/8 because I have one and it's big enough to limit deflection/walking, small enough to actually start cutting and long enough (6") that I can see if it's semi-straight. Once you get the center mark established, you can go back to a smaller bit to drill your pilot hole.

 

[nadogail]

I try to adjust my drill feed and speed to get the longest curl possible.
Long curls are a good indicator that the operator knows what they’re doing.
You may find Vee Blocks handy when clamping round objects in a Drill Press.

 

[Joemctag]

Low speed drills alot faster. Plenty of pressure. Whatever makes the long curls. Drill from each side; not straight through. Have the tube on the floor with scrap wood underneath. Alot easier for you to apply the pressure. Go easy when you’re about to break through. Lube’s a good idea. Avoid the seam, like they said.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

If there's 4 bolts, why do you need to drill 14 holes?

Overachiever

 

[LXCam]

Beyond all that (and maybe someone said it). Make sure you clock the seem 90 degrees to your holes.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Buy one of these on Craigslist. Sell when done..

 

[BillK]

I dont think I would want to drill 14 1/2"holes by hand. Surely someone local will have a drill press you can use or pay them to do it.

As far as drill bits go I have actually had good luck with the Dewalt ones that Home Depot sells.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Ever seen a glacier in the Sahara?

I've seen snow capped mountains in the Sahara.