Drilling problems for Flipmeister stand

[alpental]

I received the Flipmeister center stand today and went to work drilling out the mount holes on the Rocket from 1/4" to 1/2", stepping up 1/32" at a time. Hard work but the 20v Milwaukee drill was making it, slowly. Got to 3/8" and the drill bit snapped. Any suggestions on what to do, or should I just pick up some stronger bits? Could I take the bike to a machine shop and ask them to ream out the holes?

 

[scot in exile]

Drill bits should do, try an old fashion drill one you plug in a lot stringer than a battery drill did you lubricate as you were drilling?

 

[alpental]

Drill bits should do, try an old fashion drill one you plug in a lot stringer than a battery drill did you lubricate as you were drilling?

Yeah I would've preferred a plug-in drill, but I don't have one. I was going very slow and wasn't using any lube, so maybe I over-torqued the bit? I don't know much about metal work. Should I approach the hole with the bit spinning fairly fast and be squirting something in there at the same time?

 

[martym52]

It looks like you have Cobalt bits, they are good for hardened steel but may be too brittle for what you are doing. Try some high speed steel bits.

 

[cardinal93]

No need to approach with spinning just put some lube on the vitas you start and then again continuously while you're drilling (as it starts heating up). A corded drill would be a much better option; any friends have one? Plus 1 on the HS steel bits

 

[alpental]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll pick up some HSS bits, cutting lube, and a corded drill and give it another go in a couple weeks when I'm back in town.

 

[Mittzy]

I'm sure that is aluminium...
I recon the drill bit has bit in too much and stopped the bit as the bit would be too sharp.
Slow speed with nearly NO pushing pressure.

 

[1olbull]

Good thread!
I also received my new Stand from Flipmeister today.
I shall give it a go manana . . .

 

[1olbull]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll pick up some HSS bits, cutting lube, and a corded drill and give it another go in a couple weeks when I'm back in town.

Be sure your drill bit is perpendicular to the surface.
Start slowly with RPM using light pressure then increase both to where the bit is cutting.
Before the bit pokes through, back off on the pressure so the bit doesn't grab.

 

[warp9.9]

Also for hand drilling your using to small of a step drill it is crabbing the metal and pulling which makes it hard to control and snap goes the bit. Since it is only a 1/4 larger, 1/8 a side just drill it with lube. Get it up get in get it on get it out to slow a feed and you will work harden the metal dull the drill bit and have more problems. Also if you change the drill point angle from the typical 118 degrees and make it larger it will not pull thru the steel as fast. (get grabby) If you knew how to grind a negative rake on the face of the drill bit cutting edges you will also take away the pull thru affect.