Stainless Steel Drill Bit

Gene,

I work with stainless building winery equipment. Proper technique is what is important. You do not want the work to heat up or the bit to not cut well or spin without cutting as this hardens the stainless. Stop right away if cutting is not good and sharpen or replace the bit. Use a good quality high sulphur cutting oil and firm pressure. Even though this is a small hole, might drill a pilot and work up through one or two sizes. The boss gets all our bits sharpened with a 135 degree point. Any good quality bit will work if used properly. We don't use any special bits, and a lot of the larger ones we have were obtained military surplus and are nothing special.

Josh
 
k6zrx is on the right track. Don't wimp out on the drill - apply plenty of pressure on the bit (short of breaking it) and try to push straight instead of getting off at an angle.
Stainless is tough to drill, but you'll get the hang of it.

Myron
 
titanium bits work very well, the key is to have a drill with slow speed, if you turn it too fast all you will do is ruin the bit and get frustrated.
 

I will third the slow speed and plenty of pressure. I used to drill stainless a lot and I always got cobalt once they became available. Stainless steel is not hard with respect to deforming compared to mild steel, but it will "work harden" so if you start pushing it around instead of cutting it as other have said, it will then dull the bit. If you just use any old sharp bit properly it will cut right through it.
 
Cobalt bits will make it easy in stainless. They are the toughest out there. I have used only cobalt for year especially when I was a boater. I just drilled a stainles 1" rod with a half inch cobalt bit yesterday and it only took a few minutes.
 
It kinda depends if you are using C.N.C. equipment or a brace & bit to drill the holes.

Also, the plan of attack on machining stainless varies greatly with the type of stainless you are working.

Please forgive my nit-pickyness, but many of us toolmakers are just born with that trait.
 
Hey Gene.

I have done quite a bit of that and have found that a good quality HSS bit works as good as anything.

Lubricant helps a lot (I use reclaimed ATF) and enough pressure to keep chips or spirals coming out.

Respectfully I have tried many of the impressive sounding bits and it seems that whatever color or coating is off in the first minute of drilling.

Brad
 

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