Lelan Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Picked up some 1/8" steel to make some motor mount plates today. Now I'm in need of a strong bit https://mechanicfaq.com/drill-bits-for-hardened-steel/ that will drill through 1/8" steel with ease using a 18 volt drill. I started using some Titanium coated Dewalt bits and they didnt work very well. What bit/s should I pick up tomorrow at Home Depot/Lowes that can tackle this little project. I'm looking for something I can pick up in store; hoping to have the motor in this weekend. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Welcome to the forum. A cobalt bit might be a better choice for this task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliffbob Posted September 29, 2019 Report Share Posted September 29, 2019 What dia drill? Use 118 deg tip, not 135. Thin metal, clamp a block of alum or hard wood, plastic on backside if u can. Higher speed, n cutting oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King DORK Posted September 29, 2019 Report Share Posted September 29, 2019 Cliffbob, those are some great tips there. I took a peek at this thread to see if I could learn something, and I did. Great suggestion with the tip angle. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 What dia drill? Use 118 deg tip, not 135. Thin metal, clamp a block of alum or hard wood, plastic on backside if u can. Higher speed, n cutting oil. Also helps to take a punch to start the hole to prevent the bit from walking. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulengr Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 #1 mistake: buying TiN. This is a coating that can slightly improve cutting speeds on good quality bits until it wears off. But it will also make a cheap junk bit a pretty gold color. That is what you purchased.Get on Amazon. Search for jobber length drill index. This will get you into some high quality American made high speed steel bits: they will not be pretty gold. An index up to 1/2” will set you back $100. Which is about the same price as buying pretty junk Dewalt sets at Lowe’s.Next step is to Google drill speeds. Chances are your drill meant for wood where there is almost no upper limit on speed is way too fast. Slow down to the correct speed and let the bit take metal at its intended speed. If you get it right it can break your wrist with an 18 V drill on larger bits.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igorsolE Posted April 13, 2020 Report Share Posted April 13, 2020 Any sharp drill bit will do the job just fine. just start up with a 3/16 bit, 1/4, then 3/8. you will be just fine. unibit will be a better choice for the final cut because it tends to produce round holes on thinner plate compare to jobber bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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