

If you do not have cutting fluid you can also use any typical 3 in 1 lubricant. This is a must especially if you are planning to drill holes greater than 1/8 inches.Ĭutting fluid is typically adequate. Now that you have the pilot hole and have secured the drilling material, it is time for the last step before we actually start the drill. This might sound a bit complicated but all you need to remember is that when using a step drill bit make sure that whatever material you are drilling into is secure. These microcracks may not be visible to the human eye, but they greatly affect the long term stability and aesthetic of your hole. They also reduce the effects of vibration, which can cause microcracking. The reason clamps are used it because they not only keep the piece of plywood, metal or thin sheet plastic secure. You will need to secure this metal to your wooden work bench or machine using clamps. Many weekend warriors and DIYers often ignore this step because they believe everything is ultimately dependent just on the selection of the right step drill bit.Įspecially if you are going to be drilling into a very thin piece of metal, steel or wood. No matter what size of hole you decide to drill with.
Step drill bit manual#
This is due to the split point being much broader (135 degrees) as opposed to your standard 118 degree drill point.Ī pilot hole can be created by the actual drill bit itself with a bit of manual force, or it can be created with a screw drive or mechanical pen.Īnother reason you should add your pilot hole for your step drill bit is because this reduces any option of slippage occurring, helping you create smooth and and clean holes. Step drill bits work very well when you create a small indentation or pilot hole before starting your main drill.
Step drill bit how to#
Multiple step process on how to use a step drill bit (5 Steps explained) Step 1 – Create pilot hole/Indentation Drill material (sheet metal, plywood or thin plastic).Read More:> Learn how to drill into a brickĮquipment You’ll need to know how to use a step drill bit Make sure that you at least use workman gloves, protective eyecare and if you are in very noisy environments some ear protection. Whenever you use any high speed and high powered application, I will always stress the importance of using basic personal protective equipment. The important thing to recognize here is that you must select you bit in accordance with the your specific drilling application and requirement.įor example, if you are drilling into steel or metal sheet, you might want a split point drill bit that has a slightly broader step increments to allow for deeper and clear holes.Īlternatively when drilling into plywood, you might want to use a bit that is slightly longer to give you more penetrative power to avoid wood chips and splitter around the edges. This information is typically provided in the datasheet.

When looking at the point style you get your typical standard 118 degree drill tip of your wider 135 degree split point drill tip. You also get a variety of flute types, namely the straight flute step bit drill and the spiral flute step bit drill set. The shank diameter usually ranges between 1/4 to 3/8 inches. Your typical step bit drill comes in a variety of increments, typically between 1/8’’ and 1/32’’. Key technical parameters to understand about step bit drills These are fantastic because they provide additional friction, heat and extend the step bit drills life. Leaving very little debris around the edges of the hole.įurthermore, you get bits that use Titanium Nitride coating. It also cuts through surfaces such as sheet metal and plywood with relative ease. HSS is fantastic for working and operating at very high temperatures. This is the primary process in the making of high speed steels (HSS). It is important that you understand the chemical make up of your step point drill and how this affects your drill bits performance.Ĭubic Crystalline Boron Nitride (CBN) is a process used to add the chemical compounds of various elements to ensure that the resulting material is stronger than your conventional abrasive drill bit. There are a couple of different types available to you. Read More:> Find the best corded drill to use with your step drill bit However, the step drill bit offers a lot more of which I will detail in this guide These bits are quite recent inventions, they were created primarily to reduce the often inefficient and laborious task of changing drill bits for different size holes. What you need to know about how to use a step drill bit
