Drilling air holes in SS

[tc1]

I know this has been discussed before but mother of gawd ... I can't for the life of me get my Igo-W drilled out.

I've went through 3-4 HSS bits ... went out and grabbed titanium bits and have already melted one half way. I'm not even 1/2 to getting them to 1/16th. This little sucker is crazy strong ....

 

[Rmcgloth]

Are you using any cutting oil?

 

[tc1]

Are you using any cutting oil?

No. Just bit and a 2 speed dremel. Really wish I had bought the multi-speed dremel at this point. I don't think the low speed on my dremel is fast enough and the high setting is too fast.

Now I've almost surely hardened the steel so I might need to take this damn cap to a machinist and let him do it in like 2 minutes. lol

 

[Rmcgloth]

I idi one with a tapered diamond grit bit in a single speed cheapo Dremel, and it worked ok. Small stone tips work too if you have one.

 

[Paul.K]

You are drilling at way too fast of a speed. I believe the 2 speed Dremel low speed is at 5000 rpm. The trick to drilling any type of harder metals is to use low speed with slight pressure. You will just burn out drill bits or hurt yourself. A cordless drill at low speed (at few hundred rpms) should do the trick.

 

[tc1]

I managed to get the widest one completely drilled out using the low speed on the dremel .... the second one is being a pain. Just gotta keep working on it but I think the second hole has been hardened pretty well.

 

[pdib]

You can cheat it and grind away some of the inside with a little stone or diamond (1/2" ish diameter) grinder bit for dremel. Reduce the thickness you need to drill through. That's what I ended up doing after going through 17 bajillion bits at low rpm w/ rapid tap on the U-can mod (that sh_t was thick and hard).

 

[turbocad6]

Dude your melting the end of the bit and workhardening the stainless, I drill mine out by hand, bit in a vice grip, just push and turn little by little its easy. And I have dremels drill presses and machinery but this doesnt need more than doing it by hand with a good bit, ideal speed is something like 200 rpm or less

 

[tc1]

Outstanding tip on using the grinder to thin out the inside wall ... Broke 2 more HSS bits but the titanium bit finally went through!

Gave it a nice brushed finish and all I need to do now is give it a slight polish. She looks great! Thanks for the tips.

 

[State O' Flux]

You are drilling at way too fast of a speed.

This.

No kidding it's too fast... hell, I run at about 100 RPM... max. ;-)

 

[tc1]

Yeah, I figured I was going too fast. Thanks for confirming it and giving tips gang.

So here she is ... Igo-W with 1/16 air holes ... mirror finish on top and brushed finish on the walls.