Let me post a few suggestions.
Drilling: 1: you have some awfully cheap or dull drills or: 2: as stated above you have "worked harden" the metal 3: You are trying to drill in or near a weld. (a no-no) tensile strength can be 60,000 or more. Nothing special about bed rails, most is made from scraps in Mex. Try using a sharp drill with cutting oil (not WD-40) Proper speed for the size drill you are using and enough force to keep a chip coming. Store brought drills have 59-60 degree tip on them, which is okay for general use. But if you will regrind them at 50 degrees, the drill will cut much better in steel. (refer machinist Handbook)
If you must drill in a welded area heat it up to a straw color, and slowly cool it down. It will still be harder than the parent metal, but it'll help. Use lots of oil and heavy pressure on the bit. Nothing larger than 1/4 to start with.
Also. The habit of dropping your work piece into water, is not really a good one. At least while it is still red hot. Let it return to normal color before doing so, if it is necessary. Dropping very hot metal into water will temper it, which will; make your welds weaker, make it subject stress cracks, make it subject to premature failure of the joint. Most of us know not to touch some thing on our table. But if you share a shop, it's a good idea to keep caulk handy and put "HOT" on things, so folks will leave them alone.
Rods.
As you get older, it gets harder to hold the rod still, I just tell everyone one it's my natural "welder's weave". (don't think they believe it) couple things you can try. 1: and don't ask me why this helps, thousands of welders do it. When you put the rod in your holder, bend it about 45 degree, right at the holder. You can pivot the rod as necessary and keep the holder in a relazed position. Sounds dumb, but try it! 2: You can rest you forearm across your other forearm or hand or whatever. I think you will find, if you try holding the holder with both hands you will wear yourself out in no time. Holding the rod, is no good as it gets HOT!!! Even with welding gloves on, they can burn you. Plus if you sweat in your gloves you can get shocked if touch the bare rod.
Note: Keep in mind guys that electric current is plum lazy!! It always wants to take the easiest and shortest way home. That means we should try and keep that ground clamp closer to the point of weld than we are. I use a 20 foot ground cable and a 40 welding lead on my portable, when I'm welding pipe fence, so I don't have to move the machine so often. I weld in full leather. But my late afternoon they are often wet, more than a few times, I been reminded of my above statement!!
Ouch!!
JD
Drilling: 1: you have some awfully cheap or dull drills or: 2: as stated above you have "worked harden" the metal 3: You are trying to drill in or near a weld. (a no-no) tensile strength can be 60,000 or more. Nothing special about bed rails, most is made from scraps in Mex. Try using a sharp drill with cutting oil (not WD-40) Proper speed for the size drill you are using and enough force to keep a chip coming. Store brought drills have 59-60 degree tip on them, which is okay for general use. But if you will regrind them at 50 degrees, the drill will cut much better in steel. (refer machinist Handbook)
If you must drill in a welded area heat it up to a straw color, and slowly cool it down. It will still be harder than the parent metal, but it'll help. Use lots of oil and heavy pressure on the bit. Nothing larger than 1/4 to start with.
Also. The habit of dropping your work piece into water, is not really a good one. At least while it is still red hot. Let it return to normal color before doing so, if it is necessary. Dropping very hot metal into water will temper it, which will; make your welds weaker, make it subject stress cracks, make it subject to premature failure of the joint. Most of us know not to touch some thing on our table. But if you share a shop, it's a good idea to keep caulk handy and put "HOT" on things, so folks will leave them alone.
Rods.
As you get older, it gets harder to hold the rod still, I just tell everyone one it's my natural "welder's weave". (don't think they believe it) couple things you can try. 1: and don't ask me why this helps, thousands of welders do it. When you put the rod in your holder, bend it about 45 degree, right at the holder. You can pivot the rod as necessary and keep the holder in a relazed position. Sounds dumb, but try it! 2: You can rest you forearm across your other forearm or hand or whatever. I think you will find, if you try holding the holder with both hands you will wear yourself out in no time. Holding the rod, is no good as it gets HOT!!! Even with welding gloves on, they can burn you. Plus if you sweat in your gloves you can get shocked if touch the bare rod.
Note: Keep in mind guys that electric current is plum lazy!! It always wants to take the easiest and shortest way home. That means we should try and keep that ground clamp closer to the point of weld than we are. I use a 20 foot ground cable and a 40 welding lead on my portable, when I'm welding pipe fence, so I don't have to move the machine so often. I weld in full leather. But my late afternoon they are often wet, more than a few times, I been reminded of my above statement!!
Ouch!!
JD
