How easy could it be!

[Debs]

Q.. How easy is it to drill through Stainless Steel?

A. Its not... Grrrrrrr

Just read on google that a Cobalt Drill should do it ok...

Bought one of these to mount a Push button on/off switch on to...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290824454248?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Yes I know im tight.. 

Cut it down and drilled the hole on the big end for the switch.. Come to drill the other hole to mount it and it just laughed at the drill bit... Grrrrr 

Bought a Cobalt Drill Set off fleabay.. Lets just hope with my cordless drill they will work...

[viper]

if your intention is a 12 13 mm hole then you will need several drills starting at about a 1mm and gradually working your way up, keep the thin drills from getting hot or they will snap, SS is tough but even normal steel is hard to drill with one large drill piece

there are also stepped drills which does the job of several drills. last time i did some serious drilling i ended up buying a £50 drill set

[PCPeteUK]

I agree, sharp drill bits and start with the smallest first and work up - the smaller the drill bit the higher the speed the drill bit will need. If using a variable speed power drill you can gently squeeze the trigger and and you increase the speed you will find the optimum as the cut (assuming it starts too) will create a spring like swarf.

[Debs]

Thx Viper & Pete for your suggestions 

I have never heard of stepped drill bits before... I will see how I get on with these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290789804820?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and if I have no luck I will look into getting a set of those you mentioned.

Ive now charged the drill up ready. 

[BigAlan]

Buying cheap drill sets is expensive as they snap and don't drill "proper round holes". I managed to "obtain" a decent set a few years ago and they have stood me in good stead ever since,.

Alan

[Debs]

Buying cheap drill sets is expensive as they snap and don't drill "proper round holes". I managed to "obtain" a decent set a few years ago and they have stood me in good stead ever since,.

Alan

Have I bought a cheap set then? 

[BigAlan]

Have I bought a cheap set then? 

Not necessarily, but those drill bits need coolant to work properly and that does not mean water but proper coolant, if you don't use it you will burn out the tips.

You should get HSS drill bits, that's high speed steel and be wary of the large fluted type ans they are cheap versions.

Alan

[PCPeteUK]

I've found WD40 or '3in1' oil works as a passable coolant in emergencies -  you only want to drill one hole after all.

[BigAlan]

I've found WD40 or '3in1' oil works as a passable coolant in emergencies -  you only want to drill one hole after all.

Is a good idea.

Alan

[JohnnyTh]

most imporan of all is keep the rpm low. More rpm and the drill bit will overheat and go soft. If the stainless steel is heated it also harden and it will be even harder to drill. Here at work when we work with stainless steel and that happen we drill a inch to the side. I bet you dont have that option.

Coolant like water or oil is good. i prefer to use oil.

[keith]

hi debs if you are going to drill into stainless steel you will need a good quality cobalt drill,the way to drill stainless steel is to take the drill into the steel slowly,otherwise the drill bit will overheat and go blunt very easily.so with steady pressure and even with a small drill bit go slowly,if it starts to get too hot stop before the bit goes blunt use wd40 or similar to help keep it cool, i doubt very much if the step drills will touch the stainless steel,we use them at work everyday .,they are ok for aluminium plastis and mild steel.if you get stuck once you manage to get a hole in the steel you could always finish off with a round file  good luck.

[Debs]

Great advice thank you...

[viper]

silverline make the cheapest nastiest tools known to mankind,  however they may stand up to a once only use.  £6 for a set is whey whey cheap, a decent hss bit costs more for just one bit

becareful and they may hold out,

[pistole]

- guys , she's doing it with a cordless drill ... that's gonna be hard

.

[JohnnyTh]

I always use a cordless drill as long as its smaller then 13 mm hole. Give better controll with the rpm.