Drilling steel? How?

[bobby]

bobby

October 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm #197

I am at an absolute loss with this now! I’m renovating a trailer. I dismantled it down to the frame and am slowly putting it back together. I want to put the floor down now. Its cut to shape and drilled ready to be bolted down. The problem is I cant drill into the steel frame to put the bolts through. I had to angle grind the old bolts out and flat, so no pre existing holes.

I’ve bought a special metal drill bit, 4 different ones in fact. I’ve got the drill on a very slow speed. Its not slipping or moving about, its just not going through. If we leave it running it makes a tiny dent but thats it! I’ve tried a very small drill bit to make a pilot hole first and nothing! The steel is only a few mms thick so not an unreasonable amount to drill through, but its just not happening.

I dont think theres anything wrong with the drill. Its gone though 2″ thick hardwood planks with no problem and has easily drilled 18″ plywood and aluminium so its working fine everywhere else.

[Red-1]

Red-1

October 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm #198

Are the drill bits sharp enough? My late father was an engineer all his life and often complained that new drill bits were not correctly sharpened and then would grind them to sharpen them. I *think* that are drill sharpening services but I think you would need to google.

Edited to add, have you removed the old bolts? If not knock them through otherwise you will never be able to drill through them!

[bobby]

bobby

October 6, 2017 at 1:46 pm #199

They probably arent sharp enough. The old bolts are stuck, especially now I’ve angle grinded the top and bottom of them, so they’ve melted in place for want of a better word. They were already pretty stuck though. But the new holes are going an inch over from them so not conflicting.

How on earth do you sharpen a drill bit??

[Red-1]

Red-1

October 6, 2017 at 1:46 pm #200

You hold the drill at an angle to a grinding wheel, or if as good at it as my dad, you get your daugher to hold the angle grider (running) and hold the bit at an angle of about 45 degrees to the wheel and your drill bit is sharp
Your farrier may be able to help out with either sharpening the drill, or even getting the old bolts out, heating them may work.

[bobby]

bobby

October 6, 2017 at 1:47 pm #201

I’ll have a go at sharpening them tomorrow. I’ve just ordered some colbalt ones as well. Thank you!

[Red-1]

Red-1

October 6, 2017 at 1:47 pm #202

Do be careful, the ends of your fingers or thumbs are EXCEPTIONALY vulnerable to grinding wheels!!!!!!!!!!!