Standard drill bits are springy and will bend, this is why they wonder around. ?Start the hole with a ¡°center drill¡± these is very short and stubby drills that are only used to make a ¡°V¡± shape indent. ? Then you come back with the standard bit.
If you are unable to mill a flat spot then the usual procedure is to place a punch on the guide hole and make a dent. ?Punches come ig different dimeters like drilled and look a little ?like a drill with no flutes but only a sharp point. ?Hit it with a hammer andmake a divot. ?then center drill and then final drill. ? Just remembered, the punch is called a ¡°transfer punch¡±. ?You can make one from drill rod if you have the means to case harden it.
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On May 4, 2024, at 9:29?PM, Gerald Feldman via groups.io <gfeldman2904@...> wrote:
All of Mark¡¯s comments are valid (especially milling a flat spot to keep the drill from trying to wander when it starts to cut).? Because of its small diameter, you will want the drill to be spinning at quite a high RPM and your drill may currently be spinning too slowly.? You also will want to consider using a good quality cobalt drill as they will stay sharp for a longer period.? It would help us to know what kind of steel you are trying to drill.?
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Jerry F. ???
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Hi johannes,
Check if your drill works OK on ordinary flat material.? Maybe it's dull.
Check if your rod is rotating while you are trying to drill it.? The drill may be creating forces that want to cause the rod to spin as it's being drilled.??
It appears you have had some problems with your fixture so maybe it's not quite right yet.
Drills don't like starting on round stock, they tend to wander.? If you can, try milling a small flat on the rod before you drill a hole there.? Using a small? spotting drill to get your hole started may also work.? ?In the case of milling a flat on the rod, that option likely depends on what your requirements are.? Getting a hole-to-hole seal:? bad idea.? A center-cutting end mill with the right diameter also might work:? or starting with a smaller one and finishing with a drill the right diameter would.?
