Grrrr Shiney Bally Stuff

[Frisp]

I have just spent the last 3 hours with a slow drill and various Bosch Titanium bits from 2mm to 5mm all new and sharp. on my SS 70L pot. Despite using oil as a lubricant I have nothing much more than a dent 3mm across. Im losing the will to live. :evil: All I want to do is have some 10mm holes so I can use my q mac punches.

Im almost at the point of taking a hammer to the bloody pot......

Any suggestions :pray:

 

[Frisp]

To hell with it....... Me Go Pub.....

 

[damfoose]

When I drilled my SS keg I started with a 1mm bit and worked up, Used a fast speed and no oil but I still got through with no worries maybe the oil is acting as more than a lubricant and stopping the bit actually biting.

 

[BrewStew]

i'm the same when i drilled the hole for the brewmometer... started at 1.5mm fast speed, spraying with water every other second. then worked up the bit sizes as each one went though :thumb:

 

[Bru4u]

You can go quite fast with that size drills, try changing the speed of the drill while keeping pressure on the bit, with the revs up and down it should find the point at where it breaks the surface, did it heat by any chance, the reason soluble cutting oil is used is the latent heat of vaporisation, ie the water flashing off, this prevents surface hardening and the oil in the solution provides lubrication, I use a 50:50 mix for drilling.
If it has hardened the only way is a solid carbide drill bit,
Bru

 

[Frisp]

It never had any heat near it, Ok I will go for **** of bust in the morning. If I get no progress I will start again 5 to 10mm to the side, that way my qmax should cut out the drilled dent

 

[Aleman]

I've moved on from Titanium drill bits and now use Cobalt ones . . . Slow with pressure . . . and use cutting oil. . . . As Bru says sounds like you have work hardened the SS . . . and you are stuffed

 

[prolix]

can you drill a little to the side so that bit gets cut out by you Q cutter ?

 

[Frisp]

can you drill a little to the side so that bit gets cut out by you Q cutter ?

Im going to try that in the morning

 

[Frisp]

If I do manage to do this starting with a small drill. How do I drill a small hole through a thermobox, its 25mm+ thick and double skinned. I wont be able to drill all the way through two skins in one hit as the small bits aint long enough to go all the way through. If I dont do that I wont be able to line them up....... How did y'all do yours

 

[Frisp]

Right tried it again this morning with water . The original hole ate a 2mm Titanium bit in under 5 minutes in the original dink. I then moved the point 5mm above the original hole and went again, new 2mm bit, continuous water on bit, drilling at all speeds. 20 minutes nothing more than a scratch... COuld this pot simply be harder than a whores heart?
If Titanium bits wont touch it what are my options now?

 

[BrewStew]

what sort of pressure are you putting on the bit? i had to be quite rough with mine.

is there any oil still left on the pot that's prevent the bit getting to the surface? try washing the oil off with washing up liquid and water.

my bit wasn't titanium, infact it was a cheap and nasty bit, but 1.5mm. perhaps your'e starting too large?

 

[jamesb]

I did my HLT this weekend and I have the scars to show for it.

I made a dent with a centrepunch (ok, a screw and a mallet!), then using a cheap and nasty 3mm HSS, made a 3 mm hole - it needs lots of pressure and a fast speed.

Then opened it out to 10mm with a normal HSS drill - again, lots of pressure. You will need either cutting fluid or a lot of water for this one.

The 14mm hole for the larger QMax was fun. I used a step drill I "borrowed" from work. That took some doing.

Then it took me two grinding discs for the dremel to open the 60mm hole out enough to fit an element in. And cut the **** out of my hand in the process.

I will have photos later...

EDIT: I should mention, don't use a cordless drill - they haven't got it in them. I ended up using my decent mains B&D.

 

[Aleman]

The reason I have a series of QMax punches (Starting with 10mm then moving upwards) Is because of the difficulty I have making big holes. I drill out to 6mm . . . not too bad, Lots of force and cutting/broaching oil), then use the Qmax punch to make the hole for the larger punch . . . . . I must say that the NO pots (and the Tesco Shiny Trays) are very hard to drill and I suspect that this is down to the fact that they are so thin they flex a lot . . . With the Stainless kegs I had no problem drilling any holes.

 

[BrewStew]

EDIT: I should mention, don't use a cordless drill - they haven't got it in them. I ended up using my decent mains B&D.

my 18v JCB cordless got through it... but i think you're right about the lower powered ones :thumb:

 

[jamesb]

EDIT: I should mention, don't use a cordless drill - they haven't got it in them. I ended up using my decent mains B&D.

my 18v JCB cordless got through it... but i think you're right about the lower powered ones :thumb:

Good point. My 20 quid Tescos special is rubbish.

I'm sure it didn't help a month or so ago when I dropped it in the mop bucket...

 

[Frisp]

Im using my bosch mains 2 speed monster drill. I was sat on a barstool with the pot on its side at my feet and I was leaning on the drill as much as 19 stone of idiot could put on it..
Enough I said
So I went into RS components and ordered These puppies. I get them on Saturday Am. If these dont do It I dont know what will.

 

[BrewStew]

jesus :shock:

well i wish you the best of luck mate :pray:

 

[A T]

Mmmmm i went right through my posts with a 10mm hss bit from B&Q, no foreplay with smaller bits My pots must be **** :?

 

[Frisp]

Mmmmm i went right through my posts with a 10mm hss bit from B&Q, no foreplay with smaller bits My pots must be **** :?

Q: Do your pots hold liquid at the temps you want while being shiney and pretty..... And allow you to drill holes without anxt.... then At they are far from ****...
**** is shelling out a shedload of money for cobalt drills just because I refuse to be beaten by a piece of bloody metal....