Out in the garage last night installing the new PTB. I used a punch and hammer to set a starting point for the hole. Before its over I have a hole off center. Off to the hardware place for a carbide bit for the air grinder. At least its not the weekend.
Wandering drill bit
- Thread starter meos1
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LD1
Epic Contributor
Wandering bits is a problem when hand drilling. Especially smaller holes. Unless you can keep the drill perfectly straight, and apply just the right amount of pressure, you get wander.
Push too hard, and the bit flexes and wanders. Dont hold the drill perfect, and it wanders.
Any more details? What size hole were you drilling? How thick was the material? What was the material? Hand drill?
Push too hard, and the bit flexes and wanders. Dont hold the drill perfect, and it wanders.
Any more details? What size hole were you drilling? How thick was the material? What was the material? Hand drill?
Indygunworks
Silver Member
I when drilling small holes like that I like to use a 45 degree chamfer bit on the punch park to open the area up for the small drill bit a tad.
Brad_Blazer
Veteran Member
Yeah, 3/4" with a hand drill is so small I usually just chuck that up in the Dremel LOL.
Seriously, about a 3/16 pilot hole might have helped keep it centered. A magnetic base drill is the best tool for that job.
s219
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I have an old set of centerdrills from a milling machine that sometimes help prevent walking with a hand drill. They are so thick, there is no concern about flex or breaking, so it's ok to lean on them. There's always a "just right" amount of pressure in many cases.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Yep, center drills do wonders. They do cut slower though.
IF no mag drill available, best trick is to use a center drill and drill as deep as the chamfer on the center drill. (IE: drill intil you would start creating a hole the full diameter of the center drill).
if that is not enough to get all the way through the material thickness, use a small pilot bit that is the diameter of the TIP of the center drill. Drill that all the way through and then proceed with the 3/4" bit.
IF no mag drill available, best trick is to use a center drill and drill as deep as the chamfer on the center drill. (IE: drill intil you would start creating a hole the full diameter of the center drill).
if that is not enough to get all the way through the material thickness, use a small pilot bit that is the diameter of the TIP of the center drill. Drill that all the way through and then proceed with the 3/4" bit.
Yellowhair42
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The best way I have found is to make a nice well formed center punch where you are going to drill. Then use an 1/8th diameter drill to make a hole slightly deeper than the angle on the tip of drill bit of the finished size. Then drill to desired depth with 1/4 diameter. Then the 3/4. A drill bit will always follow the pilot hole.
LD1
Epic Contributor
IF that works for you. I personally hate small diameter bits. I dont like using anything less than about 3/16" unless I absolutely have to.