Drill Through Metal Sheet

Drilling into galvanized metal is no different than drilling a hole in standard carbon metal with the exception that the protective zinc coating does not protect the drilled hole.

Drill through metal sheet.

In general it s a good idea to drill through metal using as slow a speed as possible using a drill bit for metal. Place the center of the bit in the existing hole and slowly drill through it again lubricating the metal when necessary. Several step bits make for viable solutions for electricians and others looking to drill through sheet metal and thicker materials. While we favor the irwin cobalt models above the dual fluted milwaukee step bits come in handy configurations to tackle common job site needs.

Advance the drill through the thin sheet metal it may be difficult to get the drill to start cutting but a gentle force should be used until the cloth has been pierced taking care not to distort the sheet metal the drill will then advance normally through the metal but the resulting hole will be both round and assuming drill geometry is. Place the die over the draw stud before inserting the stud through the pilot hole. Have you ever had to drill through metal. To 3 16 in you can drill through most metals at 3 000 rpm.

But there are two main differences. The most important rules about drilling through metal are to follow a few basic safety tips and use the right techniques such as drilling slowly to prevent overheating. The material your drill bit is made of. Regular drill bits can t cut through steel so you need a heavy duty hard drill bit to do the job.

The same methods work for most metal materials from sheet metal to aluminum to thick steel plate. Amazon affiliate links listed below. You set the drill bit in place push the button and press the bit into the material you re drilling. Repeat the process with a drill bit for the size you want the final hole.

There are two types of drill bits that you can count on for metalworking projects. To setup the punch first drill a pilot hole into a piece of sheet metal with a step drill bit. Pulse the drill bit when you reach the end of the hole. In essence drilling metal is no different than drilling wood.

They are very hard and corrosion resistant. Drill through the metal again with the larger drill bit. Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. Whether you are fastening a screw or running a line through metal at some point you will need to drill a hole through a galvanized metal panel.