Drilling Holes in PE Questions

Tanker-Builder

The part about annealing the metal in your reply was very good advice. I just forgot about it.

Thanks, TB. You forget to give advice about it, I forget to actually do it.

Greg;

   The part about annealing the metal in your reply was very good advice. I just forgot about it. I do use it a lot, But, just like everything else, annealing can be carried to far as well. Once annealed the metal is easier to drill and form, But it also Remains softer!

Any time you drill a hole in metal, it helps to centerpunch.  That being said, most of the small drill sets I have bought are junk.  I am looking for a decent set (see other thread in this forum on drilling).

Jack,

I'll have to give that a try. Thanks!

John

One more  for Jack's method. I use a cheap machinist center punch knock-off, but the principal is the same. Create a small depression so the drill bit doesn't wander, and create geometry needed for the two cutting edges of the bit to bite into.

That said, you should be able to get away without it in a pinch. Drill bits need to be at least decent quality, and I suppose annealing the PE might not hurt, though I've never done it myself.

AhA!

 Ditto Jack's comment!

A method I've used is replace the drill bit with a sewing needle or seamster pin.  Put your PE piece on a cutting mat, and then push the needle down.  It won't break through, but what you want is a slight deppresion on  the underside.  This you can sand off and a hole will appear,  or just repeat the procedure until you do.

Now you can systematicatily work through various drill bits until you arrive at the required hole size.

regards,

Jack

Do you have a punch set, like Waldron?