Tube Steel Frame--how do I drill it?

[airrj]

Hi,
use a high speed drill or a titanium coated drill, carbide drills are designed for concrete not steel

Concrete drills are for concrete. Carbide is used for many types of metal cutting tool bits.

Drill bits are in ascending order of quality:
High Speed Steel
Titaniun Coated
Cobalt
Carbide

As was said before, drill a pilot hole, use moderate pressure, a little lube, and a moderate speed.

[Jonkayak]

Hi

I have drilled a lot of holes in metal before and tubing is sometimes more difficult depending on the type of material its made from. If you buy your bits froms HD or Lowes I would suggest not getting the Blu Mold (I think that is the brand's name) its there econo line that they sale. I have tried many time to use them and their bites do not last for very long periods of time. I know a drill bit looks the same on a shelf but its worth the extra buck in the time it will save. I have just drilled about 15, 3/8" holes in my frame using a crodless drill and one battery. It took all of 30 mins but the bit I bought cost about $10 but worth every penny. Also no pilot holes were needed.

I guess what I'm saying is I have been there and been through what you are going through. Try the pilot hole trick, it works great. If it still is not drilling well then I would get a diffrent drill bit. Also make sure the bit is in the drill real tight. Sometime the drill will spin and the bite will too but it can still slip and not drill as well (this normaly happens with keyless chuck drills and round shank drill bits). Also good luck.

Jon

[asianflava]

Mightydog- Were you able to drill the holes?

[xe1ufo]

I just drilled 1/2in holes in my tongue ...

Wow! I had heard of poeple piercing there tongues, but never a hole that big! And more than one! Boy, I bet that was real painfull, almost as bad as a hemorroid transplant! And probably bled like a stuck pig, too!



Sorry, Asianflava, no disrespect meant. Just couldn't resist that one!

[Mightydog]

Mightydog- Were you able to drill the holes?

The holes haven't been drilled yet--not because of the bits, but because Mrs. Dog is finishing up the last of the last of the last of her Masters research. The state of Oregon (as do many states, I suspect) requires that of teachers to maintain their licences.

Our trailer is a team project with the two of us working on it together. Until she's able to come out to the garage, lay on the floor and get metal flecks in her eyes too, everything is at a standstill.

As soon as we're able to get to it, I'll update everyone on how those holes are doing.

Thanks to everyone for answering the noobie's question with a minimum of ribbing.

[asianflava]

I gave up on trying to get Ms Flava out in the garage. She too is taking classes for an MBA and also taking a class for project management. Maybe she should havetaken the class before I started.