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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
Hi
I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. |
#2
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
"Grumps" wrote in message ... Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. SLOW! I'd use a hand drill. |
#3
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
Grumps wrote:
Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? I suspect your drill is simply getting clogged and so is unable to cut any further in. The trick with soft materials, especially something like lead, is a very slow drill speed, and I mean really slow. Drill a little way in, and lift up to allow swarf removal. Repeat a few times until you're at the required depth. -- Grunff http://www.greendoug.com - a forum for all things environmental |
#4
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
"Grumps" wrote in message ... Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. I expect that the flutes of the drill are getting clogged with the relatively soft swarf. Use a 'pecking' action - drill in a short way, withdraw to clear the drill flutes then start again. The smaller the drill the faster you need it to turn. See here for a chart: http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/drillspeed.html AWEM |
#5
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
"Andrew Mawson" wrote in message
news "Grumps" wrote in message ... Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. I expect that the flutes of the drill are getting clogged with the relatively soft swarf. Use a 'pecking' action - drill in a short way, withdraw to clear the drill flutes then start again. The smaller the drill the faster you need it to turn. See here for a chart: http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/drillspeed.html Thanks all for your replies. And thanks for the link to that chart. |
#6
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
The message
from Grunff contains these words: I suspect your drill is simply getting clogged and so is unable to cut any further in. The trick with soft materials, especially something like lead, is a very slow drill speed, and I mean really slow. Drill a little way in, and lift up to allow swarf removal. Repeat a few times until you're at the required depth. And experiment with the angle of the cutting edge of the drill. Too sharp may cause problems if it's trying to remove too much material at a time. -- Skipweasel Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. |
#7
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
Grumps wrote:
Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. If dimensions are not critical, I'd start by trying a hammer and nail. |
#8
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
"Grumps" wrote in message ... Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? You should find that quick spiral drills work better than ordinary jobber drills. Colin Bignell |
#9
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
Grumps wrote:
Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. pull the drill and swarf out and try again. The soft swarf clogs it,. Lubrication and a low drill speed works best. |
#10
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message ... Grumps wrote: Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. pull the drill and swarf out and try again. The soft swarf clogs it,. Lubrication and a low drill speed works best. From my apprentice days I seem to recall that Turpentine was the recommended lubricant for lead. Paraffin would also probably work - I always used that for machining aluminium. -- -- John |
#11
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
John wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message ... Grumps wrote: Hi I need to drill 1.5 - 2.0mm diameter holes to a depth of about 8mm in very soft alloys / lead. Using a small model maker's drill of unknown rpm only seems to get to about 2mm easily. The workpiece warms up (actually, quite hot) and it seems that drilling stops. Is there a technique for drilling this type of material? High rpm or slow? Ta. pull the drill and swarf out and try again. The soft swarf clogs it,. Lubrication and a low drill speed works best. From my apprentice days I seem to recall that Turpentine was the recommended lubricant for lead. Paraffin would also probably work - I always used that for machining aluminium. Thanks. What do you call low speed (in rpm) for a 2mm bit? |
#12
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Drilling small holes in lead / soft alloy
Grumps wrote:
What do you call low speed (in rpm) for a 2mm bit? Hand drill speed - 100-300rpm tops. -- Grunff http://www.greendoug.com - a forum for all things environmental |
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