How do I drill through hard metal?

[drami]

Hello!
Trying to drill through metal/iron/steel beam that makes up the frames on a glazed balcony. It's going very slowly, with a Ryobi hammer drill 800w, low speed, and HSS drill bit. The front of the steel pipe is okay, but I need to go through to the other side (hollow) and then it goes significantly worse...
Any tips to optimize the process?
Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Dragan

 

[Totte_S]

Cutting fluid or at least some form of oil for lubrication. High pressure on the drill, low speed. And a good drill.
If you can reach with a large one-handed clamp, you can use it to apply pressure to the drill. It's very difficult to press hard enough if you can't press downward.
For larger holes, it can be good to drill a smaller one first.

 

[Argastesnickaren]

Worked in the tooling industry 20 years ago and built tools up to 50 tons each. When we needed to drill into, among other things, hardened steel, which was really hard, we used regular concrete drills intended for hammer drills that were sharpened (much cheaper per piece compared to special drills). Then they were set up in large drilling machines that ran at the highest speed with manual slow feeding and constant cooling. It was like cutting through butter. The risk when drilling is that the material becomes too hot and hardens the steel, so cooling is essential.

 

[drami]

Worked in the tool industry 20 years ago and built tools up to 50 tons each.
When we needed to drill in, among other things, hardened steel, etc., which was really hard, we used regular concrete drills intended for hammer drills that were sharpened (much cheaper per piece compared to special drills).
Then they were set up in large drill machines that ran at the highest speed with manual slow feeding and constant cooling.
It was like cutting through butter.
The risk when drilling is that the material gets too hot and hardens the steel, so the most important thing is cooling.

Thanks, that means I could try with a hammer drill and concrete drill type SDS+ with cooling.👌🏻

 

[Argastesnickaren]

Thank you, this means I could try with an impact drill machine and concrete drill type SDS+ with cooling.👌🏻

The drill bit needs to be sharpened.
Found some link that asked about the same thing.
I haven't read the whole link but seems to answer the same thing.
Good luck

https://www.maskinisten.net/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=97321&lv=0&start=0

 

[heimlaga]

I can't imagine those pipes are made of hardened steel.

If it's going slowly, it's either the drill that is dull, or cutting fluid is needed. Or the hole is so large that one should start by pre-drilling with a smaller drill.

If you're unlucky, a chip can break off the edge of a new HSS drill when drilling the first hole, and then it doesn't cut anymore.

 

[plåtrickard]

How big should the holes be?

 

[bryggstun]

Hope you're not using the hammer drill as a hammer drill when drilling metal..

I have re-sharpened cheap concrete drills and drilled metal. Among others, plane steel. If you have the opportunity to use a pillar drill, it doesn't seem so particular how you sharpen, but with a hand drill, I suspect it's more difficult but hopefully not impossible.

I always suggest using linseed oil as lubrication/cooling when drilling challenging things. Not many drops are needed. The drills cut much better.

 

[stugfar]

Agree with those who say buy cutting oil. Do not use regular oil. Makes a big difference.

https://www.biltema.se/bilvard/smorjmedel/fetter/skarolja-2000018828

Seems weird to use a hammer drill.

 

[drami]

How big holes are you going to make?

10mm

 

[drami]

How big holes are you going to make?

10mm

 

[etompau]

Take a picture of the beam you are drilling in?
The material in these things is usually not of the highest quality, sounds like you might be using drills of slightly poor quality.

If you've gotten through on one side, you should be able to get through on the other.😀

 

[drami]

Take a picture of the beam you are drilling into?
The material of these things is usually not of the highest quality, sounds like you might be using drills of slightly poor quality.

If you've come through on one side, you should be able to get through on the other.😀

Yes, I reason the same way, but it has proven to be significantly more difficult to drill through the other side as I can't see how the drilling progresses. I don't really understand why it should be so difficult, I have only good and adequate new HSS with cobalt.😔

 

[heimlaga]

If you drill with a 10mm drill bit you should pre-drill with a 4 or 5mm or something similar. You don't get enough pressure by hand if you drill with 10mm directly. Additionally, the center is thicker on a thicker drill bit, so it works harder.

 

[drami]

If you drill with a 10mm drill bit, you should pre-drill with a 4 or 5mm or something similar. You won't get enough pressure by hand if you drill with 10mm directly. Additionally, the center is thicker on a coarser drill bit, so it works harder.

Good tip👌, thanks!