Drill Bits

[gearhead]

What drill bits do you use to bore mounting holes (up to 1/4 in) in aluminum? Any magic ones, or all they all pretty much the same in terms of speed of cut and longevity?

Am planning on getting some tapping solution this time around.

See, promised my next one would be less geeky

[sliberty]

I am using a set of Dewalt's with Pilot Point tips and No Spin Shanks. Its a small set that didn't cost a lot at Lowes (or was it Home Depot).

I have found that more important is to use a drill press instead of a hand drill. With the drill press pretty much any bits will do a pretty good job.

[gearhead]

I wish I could, but just don't have room for a drilll press right now.

Luckily Grainger carries Tap Magic, so gonna pick some up today.

[908ssp]

I wish I could, but just don't have room for a drilll press right now.

Luckily Grainger carries Tap Magic, so gonna pick some up today.

Make sure you get the Tap Magic for aluminum terrific stuff.

[Funkalicousgroove]

+1 on the pilot points. You can buy a device for about $30 that converts your hand drill into a drill press.

[gearhead]

Do you know what it's called?

[kec]

Do you know what it's called?

Hand drill press jig? I've seen these several years ago, but haven't seen them lately.

[img:200:300]http://images.craigslist.org/0101090104 ... 007dd5.jpg[/img]

Someone is selling one on craigslist for $10 http://gainesville.craigslist.org/tls/431055909.html

Gearhead, do you have room for the small benchtop drill presses? That's what I use, Ryobi 10" for $100 at HD.

[gearhead]

908 - Thanks, the Aluminum stuff is what I'm going to get.

kec- Thanks, that looks like what I want. WRT the benchtop press, I've looked at those. I just don't have a workroom per se, and would have to drag it out and put it back. Might do it anyway

[Funkalicousgroove]

mine is much smaller than that, It has no arbor, just works as a guide. I got it at Home Depot.

[CaseyJones]

I am using a set of Dewalt's with Pilot Point tips and No Spin Shanks. Its a small set that didn't cost a lot at Lowes (or was it Home Depot).

I have found that more important is to use a drill press instead of a hand drill. With the drill press pretty much any bits will do a pretty good job.

I don't like the no spin shanks and I'll tell you why... I work with a number of handheld drills, an old Delta drill press and a Bridgeport. If I use a handheld drill and a no spin then the bit grabs things get ugly in a big hurry.

There are hundred buck benchtop drill presses available especially at pawn shops so there's no good reason not to have one.

[sliberty]

Well, you are right about that. When a no spin bit grabs your work out of your hand, look out! With a drill press its less of a problem as I tend to clamp my work down almost every time. and the smooth gradual and consistant downward pressure from the drill press helps too - it tends to avoid grabbing as it cuts more easily.

I also use a desktop press, although I ended up making a table for it, so it is taking up as much room as a floor standoing press. but it still cost far less.

[kec]

I have the 29 piece DeWalt pilot drill set. While it's an excellent set, I wouldn't use it on an aluminum sheet. The cut is too aggressive for thinner materials IMO and because of that I use standard drill bits (or unibits for large holes). It is, however, great for counterboring which is why I bought the set. I've used it to counterbore socket head cap screws in aluminum plate and corian.

[dragonbat13]

I work offshore and we have a small drill press that you can move around and store out of the way. Its about the same size as the jig in the other pics.
I am going back out tonight and will post some pics and info on it soon.

[David Root]

I had one of those aluminum hand drill press adapters just like that picture about 20 years ago. It would go out of alignment while you were using it, basically worthless IMHO.

Don't waste your money, buy a small desk top drill press that's designed as a drill press. The Taiwan stuff is OK, but much of the Chinese stuff (Harbor Freight) is pretty marginal depending on how precise the duty is.

[skyboltone]

Harbour fright has a 40 buck drill press that's actually quite acceptable. I'm now using a 1954 Delta Milwaukee but the portability of that little Chinese drill press was hard to beat.