How To Drill Metal Without A Drill

Hole in metal without drill

To drill through non-thick metal or plastic, you need a screwdriver and a self-tapping screw with a cutting head. It comes in different lengths, it is better to take a short one.

How To Drill Metal Without A Drill

  • Mark the point on the surface where you will drill.
  • Insert the self-tapping screw into a screwdriver and carefully screw it through
  • At the same time, press it down so that the sharp cuts into the workpiece and pierces it.

The operation will only take a few minutes and the passage is ready. With this self-tapping screw, you can cut several openings, then you need to replace it.

Also these tools are suitable for drilling holes in wood. First you need to screw in a small self-tapping screw, and then a larger diameter.

Hole in plastic without drill

A simple way to make an opening in plastic. To do this, you can use a conventional gas burner and an awl.

Heat the awl red-hot with a torch and carefully pierce the plastic. You will get an even hole in the plastic, which is quickly made without a drill.

Instead of an awl, you can use a nail clamped in pliers. And the burner can be replaced by a switched on gas stove.

Of course, if there are many holes to be drilled, then a drill is best. But 2-3 punctures can be easily done this way.

How to make a hole without a drill: 5 ways to drill materials

We will tell you what to do if you need to make a hole, but there is no drill or screwdriver. You will learn 5 ways to drill wood, metal, brick, plastic and glass without drilling tools.

Hole in brick without drill

The way out is how to drill a hole in the brick if there is no drill. The main thing is that a drill for metal of the required diameter is found at home.

  • Break off the spiral rod strictly perpendicular.
  • Use this drill and hammer to punch a hole in the wall.
  • Rotate it clockwise regularly. Then it will gradually deepen more and more.

It takes about 5 minutes to make a 5 cm deep hole with a broken drill and hammer. Therefore, if necessary, you can punch a brick using THESE tools.

Hole in glass without drill

A way to make a hole without a drill in the glass, so that it does NOT crack. This will require molten lead.

  • Load lead fishing weights into metal dishes.
  • Light the burner and melt them.
  • Wipe the glass surface with alcohol to remove grease and other contaminants. Otherwise, the glass may crack.
  • On the cleaned area Pour in a heap Fine wet sand.
  • Use a stick to make it look like a well to form a vessel.
  • Pour molten lead into this vessel. Thanks to wet sand, the temperature inside the well will be kept for a long time.
  • Clean the surface after 1-2 minutes.

A hole is formed in the place where the molten lead was poured. And the glass will NOT be damaged.

How to drill a long hole in wood

Sometimes it becomes necessary to make a through opening in a long wooden block along its entire length. For example, to drive in a hairpin or wire. Even with equipment or long drills, this is difficult to accomplish. The drill will definitely run unevenly and will NOT hit from one set point to another.

But there is an easy way how to make a clear and even hole without using a drill, drilling or lathe. To do this, you need a circular saw and cutters with a Limiting ruler.

  • Mark out the place where the hole should go.
  • Place the saw blade on the circular dust along the markings and dissolve the block.
  • Move the router to the marked risks of one workpiece, and mill the groove. Do the same with the second part.
  • Now restore the integrity of the bar, glue both blanks.
  • The hole is ready. A cable or hairpin will fit perfectly into it. If necessary, fix them, Milling a shallower depth before compression.

    If you use some other, simpler methods, share your experience in the comments.

    What you need to know about drilling holes in metal

    You can fasten a metal sheet or part using a variety of fasteners. However, holes need to be made for them. Drilling holes in metal requires a person to use special tools. To carry out the work without difficulty, you need to be able to select equipment and work with workpieces of different sizes.

    Drilling methods for hardened steel

    Drilling of hardened steel is characterized by high heating of the surface of the workpiece and the tool, which leads to rapid wear of the latter. Therefore, during processing, they try to remove excess heat or make it so that the area where the channel will be becomes softer.

    The first method, which makes it possible to make the hardened metal more malleable, is based on the use of acids. Suitable substances include nitric, perchloric or sulfuric acid. These liquids are applied pointwise, that is, they are used to treat exactly the place where the hole will be in the future (the area is etched). To prevent the acid from leaving the working area from materials that are NOT exposed to acid (polymers, paints, paraffin), something like a side is organized around the future hole. The hole is filled with active liquid and kept for a certain time. Next, drill with a conventional drill.

    Another method of weakening the hardness of the hardened metal in the channel receiving zone is based on heating this zone to high temperatures. The welding machine copes with this in the best way. In this case, it is necessary to choose the right arc force so that the metal does NOT melt or deform. When the workpiece in the drilling area is hot, you can make a hole with a conventional HSS drill.

    The easiest way, but not the cheapest, is to purchase a special drill designed for making holes in Hardened Metal. The cutting edges of such a tool are reinforced with victorious solders or are made of victorious inserts. In this case, it is also desirable to use additional cooling of the working area.

    Drilling thick workpieces

    NOT many novice craftsmen know how to drill a hole in thick metal. Deep drilling is more difficult than usual. In production, it is carried out using lathes. In them, the workpiece is fixed in a movable spindle, which rotates it.

    If you have the ability to use industrial equipment, you can drill a deep hole with a drill. To do this, you need to purchase special guides for the power tool. Additionally, it is required to use machine oil for cooling. In the process of work, you need to periodically stop to clean the shavings and let it cool.

    Like stepped drill bits?

    On sale you can find stepped designs for creating holes in metal of various diameters. Several drills of different diameters are fixed on one axis. They are designed to create holes of different sizes in sheet metal. When working, do not rush and press hard on the handle of the drill.

    Is it possible to drill with a drill for concrete?

    Situations often arise when it is difficult to find a tool for drilling metal products at a construction site, but there is equipment for working with concrete. It is impossible to make holes of large diameter or in thick metal sheets with concrete drills. Otherwise, the tooling may be broken or the work surface may be damaged.

    Is it possible to drill with a victory drill?

    Any master of finishing works will say that drilling metal with tooling from will win is unacceptable. Victory drills are designed for hard and, at the same time, brittle materials. These include natural stone, brick, concrete. If it hits the metal, the drill will hit the surface and damage it, but there will be no holes.

    Than the drills of large diameter holes?

    Drilling large holes in metal requires the use of appropriate tooling. You can carry out the work in several ways:

    • Crown for metal surfaces. It is a circle of the required diameter with sharpened edges. A drill is located in the center that pierces the metal. Further, at low speeds of the electric motor, the crown makes a hole of the selected diameter. During the work, it is necessary to use forced cooling of the sharp edges of the crown and the surface to be treated.
    • Multi-stage operation. It implies the use of several drills for metal of different diameters. Work begins with the smallest diameter tooling and increases as you drill.
    • Tapered tooling (stepped). Designed to work with thin sheet metal.

    Builders recommend using crowns. However, when working with them, it is required NOT to increase the speed and make sure that all the teeth going around the circle are intact.

    Like a drill with a drill?

    Drilling metal with a drill requires following some recommendations:

    • To make a hole, you will need an electric drill, a core, a hammer, machine oil and safety glasses.
    • Initially make markup.
    • Wear safety glasses.
    • With low pressure on the drill, you need to select the low speed position and start working.
    • Do not forget to water the treated area with the equipment with coolant.

    With the observance of technology and the use of quality tools, holes of different diameters and depths can be made. You can use a device called a “depth gauge” to drill even holes or accurately select the depth. It attaches to the Electric Drill and adjusts to the desired depth.

    Drilling nuances

    The technology under consideration has a fairly large number of features that must be taken into account. Drilling in hardened metal is carried out taking into account the following points:

    • Before carrying out work, attention should be paid to surface hardness. This parameter is used to select the most suitable drill. Hardness can be determined using a variety of technologies.
    • A lot of heat is generated during drilling. That is why there is a rapid wear of the cutting edge. In this regard, in many cases, a liquid is supplied to the cutting zone for cooling.
    • When cutting difficult-to-machine material, it is necessary to sharpen the cutting edge from time to time. For this, a conventional sharpening machine or a special tool is used. Only a diamond-coated wheel is suitable as an abrasive.

    Drilling tool for steel

    There are a variety of methods for cutting hardened steel. Some of them greatly simplify the processing. Only by taking into account all the nuances can the quality of the resulting hole be improved.

    Classification of drills for square holes

    The name “square drill” comes from the shape of the hole the bit is able to drill. Outwardly, such drills look like a triangle (tip), but with their help it is possible to obtain square-shaped openings. The considered nozzles are classified according to a number of the following characteristics:

    • The type of work material can be wood, metal or plastic
    • The material from which the nozzle is made. Depending on the material in which you need to get a square opening, nozzles are made from alloy, carbon or high-speed steel
    • Type of production of nozzles. they are of two types: one-piece and composite type. Composite nozzles have an articulated (cardan) shank, by means of which the load on the tool chuck is reduced. Gimbal heads are extremely rare today.
    • Shank shape. depending on this parameter, you can use attachments on drills, drilling machines and other types of equipment. Watts drills are available with cylindrical, tapered and hex shanks. Taper shank cutters fit directly into the drill chuck, while cylindrical and hexagonal bits require a special chuck to fix
    • Drill length. they are long, medium and short
    • Accuracy class. normal and high
    • Diameter. depends on what size of the square you want to get in total
    • The length of the working part is another important parameter, which is responsible for the possibility of drilling the corresponding holes with different degrees of depth
    • Construction. cutters for square holes come with an overlay frame, as well as an adapter or without it

    Domestic square drills are produced in compliance with the standards GOST 886-77, GOST 4010-77 and GOST 10902-77. However, drills of foreign production are very popular, which are manufactured in compliance with the relevant standards. Marking is indicated on the tail of the cutter, where information such as diameter, material of manufacture and company name are presented.

    Square drill or how to drill a square hole in different ways

    To drill a round hole, you will need to use a drill and drill. Almost everyone knows how to do this. However, it is often necessary in the household to drill square holes. To accomplish this task, you will need to use a special square or slotted drill. It is also called a chisel or cutter, which allows you to get openings of the appropriate shape. What a cutter is, and how to use it, not many know.

    Design features and operating principle of square drills

    A special drill bit is used to drill square holes. This bit is called a Watt’s drill, which is shaped like a triangle. The main feature of this nozzle is that the Reuleaux triangle tip (named after the founder) has an area of ​​intersection of three equal circles.

    It is due to the special triangular shape of the cutter tip that a square shape of the opening in the surface of the material to be processed is obtained. The principle of obtaining such a hole shape by using a triangular drill is as follows:

    • The center of the triangle moves along its trajectory, while repeating the movements
    • It is possible to obtain such a trajectory due to ellipsoidal arcs in the central part of the drill.
    • The edges of the triangle will move along a similar path, repeating the shape of a square with rounded edges

    On the basis of the Reuleaux triangle, a special nozzle was made, through which you can drill a round hole with rounded corners. The central ellipsoidal arcs of the triangle are here, which no longer remains in place, as in the case of a conventional round drill, but moves along the corresponding path. The main disadvantage of using such nozzles is that the resulting square hole has rounded corners. The design of the Watts drill, which is based on the Reuleaux triangle, shown in the photo below.

    The opening is drilled through three side parts, which have a sharpening. When the drill starts to move, the central part performs a rotational action, and the side edges repeat the swinging movements.

    The nozzle consists of a tail and a working part. The shank is designed to fix the nozzle in the tool holder, and the working part performs the main work. it drills a square opening. The working part consists of a head (also called a chisel) and a spiral, as on a conventional drill. The structural element of the drill is also a holder, which is a mandrel. The drill moves in this mandrel, thereby excluding its chaotic movement. The mandrel has a hole through which the chips are removed.

    The working part has special grooves designed to remove chips from the cutting zone. These grooves also reduce the load on the chuck, thereby increasing cutting efficiency and reducing inertia. The working principle of the square drill is shown in.

    How to make a hole in metal without a drill? Choosing a milling cutter for drilling square openings

    Drilling metal

    Drill selection

    When purchasing drills, you need to keep in mind that conventional drills made of high-speed tool steel (for example, P6M5) are designed for drilling metals, and not having high hardness. To drill through harder metal, you need carbide drills. These drills can be all-carbide or have only a carbide tip.

    Sometimes, before starting drilling, it is not known what hardness the metal will be for the drill. Therefore, having seen at the first moment of drilling that the drill does NOT penetrate into the metal, you must immediately stop drilling, otherwise the drill will be irrevocably damaged, overheating and losing its hardness. This will be evidenced by the appearance of a dark blue color on it. Before drilling a metal, the hardness of which is not known, you can draw a file over it. If the latter does NOT leave traces on the metal, then the material has increased hardness.

    Like drills metal

    When drilling metal, the sharpness of the drill is very important, while the drill becomes blunt very quickly. The speed of bluntness of the drill depends in particular on the speed, feed force, cooling and other factors, however, no matter how hard you try, if an aluminum alloy is NOT drilled, the operating time of the drill for unsatisfactory performance is measured in minutes.

    Before drilling, you need to mark out the hole by tapping it. To do this, you need to install a sharp punch (or dowels) in the intended center of the hole and hit it with a hammer. Punching is necessary to prevent slipping of the drill at the first moment of drilling. If the core mark is Not large enough to hold a large diameter drill, widen the hole first with a small drill.

    To create better drilling conditions, it is advisable to dip the tip of the drill in machine oil or drop it into the center of the punch. Oil in the drilling area helps to cool the drill and makes cutting metal easier. The drill, which is drilled with the introduction of oil, dulls less, requires less sharpening and lasts longer. A special emulsion, soapy water, and kerosene are also used as a coolant. According to some artisans, lard is a good lubricant and cooling agent. Before drilling, a rotating drill is immersed in a piece of bacon, which melts during drilling and has a lubricating and cooling effect. But still the simplest and most convenient means is soapy water. It does not stain, and there is soap in every home. It is enough to drop it once at the beginning of drilling and in the process. You can periodically dip the drill into a soapy solution.

    When drilling through with a high feed, a burr (lattice) forms at the exit of the hole, and the drill clings with its lateral cutters. As a result, a sharp blockage of the drill and its fracture or chisel breakage can occur, and even at this moment the drill becomes especially blunt. Such stops have a negative effect on the condition of the drill. To avoid burr formation, you need to finish drilling holes in the metal at a low feed. It is also advisable to put a wooden block under the drilled part, which prevents the formation of a burr. The bar and the workpiece must be tightly pressed against each other. For greater effect, you can place NOT a wooden block, but a plate of the same or less hard metal, which should be firmly pressed against the drill exit.

    Most often, you have to drill steel, but often you have to drill and other metals, which have their own drilling characteristics. Aluminum, for example, envelops the drill, making it difficult to penetrate deeply and expanding the resulting hole. If you need drills in aluminum with a precise hole (for example, for a thread), it is imperative to apply coolant and often remove the drill from the hole to clean it. Conventional gray cast iron drills easily and does not require cooling or lubricating fluid. But drilling in cast iron can be a surprise. There are high-strength gray cast irons that need to be drilled with a carbide drill bit. White cast iron, the main structural constituent of which is cementite, is very hard, it requires a high strength drill.

    Large diameter holes should be drilled in stages. First you need to drill the part with a thin drill, then drill a hole in a larger diameter. For example, a hole with a diameter of 12 mm is better with a drill in two or three steps. Sequentially with drills 5, 10 and 12 mm.

    Dull drills must be sharpened in a timely manner. It is best to do this with a sharpener, but you can do without it. When doing this, pay attention to the symmetry of the drill tip. If the sharpened edges do not converge exactly in the center, the hole drilled with such a drill will have a larger diameter, since one cutting edge will be longer than the other. The standard nose angle (angle between cutting edges) is 118 °. For drilling in aluminum, the optimum angle is 130-140 °, soft bronze and red copper 125-130 °. However, all of these metals can be drilled with a standard angle drill. Read more about sharpening a drill here.

    When drilling, it is necessary to maintain the verticality of the drill against the metal surface (if the drill is not required an inclined hole). When making holes in thin sheets, this requirement is not as relevant as for thick-walled or hollow parts. Drilling pipes, for example, often results in the inlet and outlet holes being offset from each other. The larger, the larger the pipe diameter. It is quite difficult to maintain the perpendicularity of the drill by eye, so you can use home-made or purchased jigs for drilling or guides, which ensure the perpendicularity of the drill.

    Jigs are also needed to drill two or more holes in mating parts. The best way to ensure the holes match. This is drilling them together. When drilling holes for rivets, the complete drilling is mandatory. Having drilled the first hole, you can use it to connect the parts with a bolt so that you can drill the rest of the holes without the fear that the parts will move alongside each other. If the drill mating parts assembly is impossible or inconvenient, then a jig or guide must be used. You should be aware that no matter how accurately the mating holes are marked and pored, they will NOT coincide absolutely exactly, since when drilling even a punched hole, the drill will go a little to the side.