Drilling Hole In Sheet Metal

In essence drilling metal is no different than drilling wood.

Drilling hole in sheet metal.

When drilling thin sheet metal clamp the metal over a piece of sacrificial plywood or other flat sheet good like mdf or particleboard to help prevent the bit from tearing up the hole. The diameter of this pilot hole should be slightly larger than the chisel length picture below of the final bit. A step drill bit for metal allows you to drill holes in a variety of diameters and some will drill through. If you want small holes then this is a great method.

How to drill metal. To drill a round hole in thin sheet metal take a piece of cloth for example an corner of an old tea towel cut into squares an old flannel or anything you don t mind cutting into squares and throwing in the bin once you have your nice round hole. Step drill bits are designed to drill holes in sheet metal and other thin materials. Drilling a hole in sheet metal with a twist drill is a rather straightforward operation.

Since this is a small hole a normal drill bit will work well in the sheet metal without extra precautions. This is the most straightforward option for drilling a round hole in sheet metals. But this method is highly time consuming and boring. After you drill the hole it is possible to provide adequate corrosion protection for the drilled.

Piercing cutting and drilling sheet metal is an integral part of metalsmithing. Then gradually start drilling larger holes. They re just the thing when you need a perfectly sized clean hole in a steel junction box electrical service panel or even a stainless steel sink. At first start by drilling a small diameter pilot hole.

For the cleanest hole clamp a second piece on top of the metal making a sacrificial sandwich. But once you get to know the tools whatever your budget and how to use them you can start creating holes in sheet metal quickly and accurately. Do this till you get your required hole size. It may seem daunting at first something as simple as learning how to cut a hole in sheet metal can seem like a tall order.

For holes up to 19mmø i would suggest starting with a piece approximately 100mm 4. You set the drill bit in place push the button and press the bit into the material you re drilling. You start off by drilling a small diameter pilot hole and then drill gradually larger holes until you get. 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.