I dislike drilling holes.

[Archie Zietman]

A lot.
I just almost finished a pair of loop-welded spatula handles. Everything was perfect, and then I went to drill the holes. On a half inch thick piece of steel a millimeter offcenter makes a huge difference. Gonna cut the ends off and forge weld on a slightly thicker piece of stock to try again. I don;t want to throw away the handles if I don't absolutely have to. I really should get a drill press to drill at 90 degrees to the work.

thanks for letting me mini-rant,
a somewhat put out Archie

[markb]

lay out precisely with scribe (knife handle) use spring assisted marking punch, go to hammered center punch, drill hole on drill press.....OFF CENTER
where did I go wrong? arrrgha:mad:

Edited July 8, 2009 by markb
sp

[Bryce Masuk]

mark Is the drill press table square to the bit? either that or there could have been something under it or your pushing to hard too quick with a small bit and its walking away from you,

I screwed up one set of tongs I made (actually about the first 4 sets)
eventually I heated them up with the torch and drifted the hole to center and used a larger rivet,

it might work or maybe not at least you can try

[SGropp]

Put the piece in a drill press vise. Take a transfer punch that just fits between the jaws of the vise and punch the center. Do not remove the piece from the vise. Drill the hole using a drill press. A copper or aluminum shim on each side of the piece will help the vise grip an irregular [ forged ] piece.
Transfer punches are really handy in a blacksmith shop. Even the cheap sets are well worth the money. When they get too dull they make great stock for forging a graduated set of drifts.
Buy yourself a drill press. They are the most essential tool in any kind of metal shop IMHO

[Drewed]

Drill? Whats this drill you talk of? Heat it up and punch the hole in it. Nice thing about punching is you can "wiggle" it a bit if your slightly off.

[ichudov]

You need 2 tools: a center punch and a center drill.
Then the only frustration with a handheld drill is the amount of effort required.

[Finnr]

Got three drill presses . Need a couple more!

Finnr

[ichudov]

Got three drill presses . Need a couple more!

Finnr

I have a powermatic 1150 drill press for sale, variable speed, 3/4 HP, 115 volts.

I no longer need it due to having acquired a Bridgeport mill.

Powermatic 1150 Drill Press

$500, Chicagoland.

[country boy]

A Drillpress is sure nice to use if you got the bread for it.

[Finnr]

Paid thirty bucks for my vintage hand cranked! The old critter will drill about anything

Finnr

[Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver]

I'm with Drewed. Why are you not punching the holes?

[Fe-Wood]

I'm with drewed too. Punching or drifting is SO much easier.

[Archie Zietman]

I wasn't punching them because the area I was working was extremely small. Going to forge weld on a slightly larger piece of stock, and then I'm going to punch them. You are definitely right about punching being easier. It might seem like a drill is, but you are taking away all of the metal in the hole as opposed to relocating it, which can make it look bad much easier.

[Dragons lair]

Better? Probably. Easier? Not. Lets see 1" sq bar. Layout and center punch takes the same time. Light the forge,forge already lit. Heat bar, punch/drift hole.streighten/adjust hole. OR install drill bit,turn on,drill press,drill 6 perfectly streight holes in the same time True its not traditional, True there is material loss, However for me its easier and quicker.
Ken

[Sam Thompson]

Drill a small pilot hole first., it's more accurate because you don't need to push so hard.