Drilling A Hole In Sheet Metal

Drilling through sheet metal and thin metal.

Drilling a hole in sheet metal.

For holes up to 19mmø i would suggest starting with a piece approximately 100mm 4. Step drill bits are designed to drill holes in sheet metal and other thin materials. If you are new to the joys of drilling holes in metal drilling out thin pieces of metal may seem like a fairly easy job but as with most things this can also present it s own problems. This can cause corrosion rust to form in and around the hole.

The center is about half way through the 050 thickness with the point already through the material. The right shows the finished hole. But once you get to know the tools whatever your budget and how to use them you can start creating holes in sheet metal quickly and accurately. The extremely versatile and useful mag drill.

The diameter of this pilot hole should be slightly larger than the chisel length picture below of the final bit. You start off by drilling a small diameter pilot hole and then drill gradually larger holes until you get. Drilling into galvanized metal is no different than drilling a hole in standard carbon metal with the exception that the protective zinc coating does not protect the drilled hole. Sheet metal drills a pdf test drill a hole.

It may seem daunting at first something as simple as learning how to cut a hole in sheet metal can seem like a tall order. For the cleanest hole clamp a second piece on top of the metal making a sacrificial sandwich. Piercing cutting and drilling sheet metal is an integral part of metalsmithing. Since this is a small hole a normal drill bit will work well in the sheet metal without extra precautions.

When drilling thin sheet metal clamp the metal over a piece of sacrificial plywood or other flat sheet good like mdf or particleboard to help prevent the bit from tearing up the hole. They re just the thing when you need a perfectly sized clean hole in a steel junction box electrical service panel or even a stainless steel sink. Drilling a hole in sheet metal with a twist drill is a rather straightforward operation. At the left is the hole just started and starting to drill some of the diameter.

After you drill the hole it is possible to provide adequate corrosion protection for the drilled. To drill a round hole in thin sheet metal take a piece of cloth for example an corner of an old tea towel cut into squares an old flannel or anything you don t mind cutting into squares and throwing in the bin once you have your nice round hole.