Advice on bit type?
Dave D
will drill well in thin materials, such as 1/16" aluminum. It's hard
enough to find fractional sizes, but DeWalt pilot point seem to work
best. However, I have not been able to find a letter size that will
work. I believe the problem is that the bit doesn't have enough
thickness to center off well in material this thin. Trust me, I've
tried it all and it comes down to this. I need something that will
drill one hole without having to use multiple steps.
I'm wondering if anyone thinks these would work?
Just hoping for an opinion before I blow money on yet another bit to
try. It sounds like it may be designed to solve the problem though. I
would ask the manufacturer, but I can't find a contact for Hertel.
Thanks,
Dave
Randy
<xra...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>For quite a while now I have been trying to find letter size bits that
>will drill well in thin materials, such as 1/16" aluminum. It's hard
>enough to find fractional sizes, but DeWalt pilot point seem to work
>best. However, I have not been able to find a letter size that will
>work. I believe the problem is that the bit doesn't have enough
>thickness to center off well in material this thin. Trust me, I've
>tried it all and it comes down to this. I need something that will
>drill one hole without having to use multiple steps.
>
>I'm wondering if anyone thinks these would work?
>
>http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=95&PMT4NO=82207504&PMT4TP=*ITPD&PMITEM=79892543&PMCTLG=54
>
When I click the link I get the cover of the MSC catalog.
Thank You,
Randy
Remove 333 from email address to reply.
rangerssuck
> For quite a while now I have been trying to find letter size bits that
> will drill well in thin materials, such as 1/16" aluminum. It's hard
> enough to find fractional sizes, but DeWalt pilot point seem to work
> best. However, I have not been able to find a letter size that will
> work. I believe the problem is that the bit doesn't have enough
> thickness to center off well in material this thin. Trust me, I've
> tried it all and it comes down to this. I need something that will
> drill one hole without having to use multiple steps.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone thinks these would work?
>
>
> Just hoping for an opinion before I blow money on yet another bit to
> try. It sounds like it may be designed to solve the problem though. I
> would ask the manufacturer, but I can't find a contact for Hertel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
Hertel was acquired by Kennametal in 1993.
http://www.kennametal.com/en-US/company_profile/history_page.jhtml
Contact information is on this page:
http://www.kennametal.com/en-US/customer_support/contact_us_main.jhtml
Jim Wilkins
> will drill well in thin materials, such as 1/16" aluminum. It's hard
> enough to find fractional sizes, but DeWalt pilot point seem to work
> best. However, I have not been able to find a letter size that will
> work. I believe the problem is that the bit doesn't have enough
> thickness to center off well in material this thin. Trust me, I've
> tried it all and it comes down to this. I need something that will
> drill one hole without having to use multiple steps.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone thinks these would work?
>
>
> Just hoping for an opinion before I blow money on yet another bit to
> try. It sounds like it may be designed to solve the problem though. I
> would ask the manufacturer, but I can't find a contact for Hertel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
I've been drilling 1/16" 6061 for decades without much trouble. I back
it with plywood, hold the metal down so it doesn't jump and use 135
degree points if available.
jsw
sta...@prolynx.com
> For quite a while now I have been trying to find letter size bits that
> will drill well in thin materials, such as 1/16" aluminum. It's hard
> enough to find fractional sizes, but DeWalt pilot point seem to work
> best. However, I have not been able to find a letter size that will
> work. I believe the problem is that the bit doesn't have enough
> thickness to center off well in material this thin. Trust me, I've
> tried it all and it comes down to this. I need something that will
> drill one hole without having to use multiple steps.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone thinks these would work?
>
>
> Just hoping for an opinion before I blow money on yet another bit to
> try. It sounds like it may be designed to solve the problem though. I
> would ask the manufacturer, but I can't find a contact for Hertel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
Another alternative is to use a hand punch, if the work is within the
envelope of the punch. I've made custom-sized punch and die sets out
of drill rod, not rocket science, usually an afternoon's project.
Certainly a lot faster than drilling and no burrs.
Letter drill sizes are pretty much confined to making the larger
machine-screw tap-sized holes, so not a lot of demand for different
types, you might find a better selection of tip types in metric
equivalents.
Stan
Jim Wilkins
> ...
> Another alternative is to use a hand punch, ...
>
> Stan
This type is nice:
http://home.flash.net/~dgjco/rw218apic.jpg
Or the big one:
http://www.sheetmetalequip.com/newequipment/newfullpics/turret.jpg
I had a Rotax one in my model shop at MITRE.
You can make custom drill bits out of drill rod by milling it to a D
shape in cross-section and turning or grinding a blunt cone on the
end. They work like step drills, cutting smoothly but not real fast.
If not hardened and kept sharp they may raise a burr on the back.
jsw
Dave D
Sorry, forgot to mention these are drilling in tubes, so punching or
putting something behind it is out. The metric bits is a good idea,
but looks like none come very close. I tried to sharpen bits for this,
but didn't get it quite right.