Drilling holes using a hand drill
 

Does anyone have any tips for drilling holes when making chassis plates using a hand drill? My holes never seem to come out round and are never where i want them to be, even when centre punching and starting off with a small bit.

I've been tempted to buy myself a pillar drill, but was wondering if anyone could give me some advice before i do?.

My advice is buy yourself a pillar drill

seconded

i have got one of these. good enough for chassis plates

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...illing-systems

another option is to use stepped cone drill bits as they cut differently to conventional bits.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-A...Set-576690.htm

ha ha me to..:eek:

Yup pillar drill is the answer. I have a small six speed unit in the workshop from Aldi and it works just fine plus all their electrical stuff has a three year guarantee. Only downside with Aldi kit is it only comes in about once in six months.

D.

Well it looks like i now know what im spending the rest of my money on :p. Cheers for the help guys.

Try using some good proper drill bits, dormer are good with gold tip, use a quailty drill, bosch is the best.

To be honest it does'nt matter what you use to drill the hole with pistol,pillar or hand brace if you hav'nt got the work in a vice it will move where ever it wants, if it moves the hole will come out triangluar. A drill run at a slower speed rather than flat out will let the bit cut instead of burn and a good sharp properly dressed drill bit will also help. Every body knows how to make holes in timber but steel is a different matter it's much harder,funny that.

Its definately worth getting a pillar drill and a decent set or two of drills
proper tools proper job
half arsed tools half arsed job
get some holesaws as well especially if your going to cut out your own diff brackets wishbone plates etc
made my own bike carb manifold with a pillar drill and holesaw
carefull cause next youll need a grinder to sharpen your drills then a lathe then a mill lol
Ray:)

If you have drill bits then you definitely need a bench grinder to sharpen them on, all you need to do is learn how to sharpen drill bits;) . I've seen some very highly qualified men in engineering circles who couldn't sharpen a drill to save their lives. I've had to sharpen drills on everything from a 9 inch angle grinder clenched between my knees (not funny when its a 2.5mm drill bit:mad: ) to a really good quality pillar grinder with a 9 inch fine wheel, after all the other crap I've used to sharpen drill bits this one was a peach! I have a small 250Watt bench grinder/belt sander combo unit and its good enough for sharpening bits on down to 3mm dia, less than that would need a finer stone.

D.