Drilling problem - Drill won't go through enclosure

[thedude99]

Hi,

Looking for a bit of advice.  I have a decent hand drill, a set of bits and a some cheap unibits.  I've drilled a few Hammond boxes with this stuff with no problems, it goes through like butter.  I'm now trying to drill through an enclosure for Pedal Parts Plus (it's made by NSC), and I can't get either the regular bits or the unibits to go through.  I'm guessing this enclosure must be made of stronger stuff than the Hammonds.

What do I need to drill this thing?  Different drill bits?

Thanks!

[davent]

Good drill bits/unibits will go through steel, never mind aluminum, like a hot knife through butter. Avoid the big box stores and find a quality tool dealer and get some good bits. Gold dust on a junk bit doesn't make a better piece of junk.
dave

[PRR]

WHAT is it made of?

Stainless Steel can be a real problem, needs special technique.

Plain steel cuts well with a power-drill but is hard work with a hand-crank drill. (Your "decent hand drill" is ambiguous.)

Steel NEEDS a sharp bit and appropriate speed. High speed softens the point, it won't cut. Low speed is boring and you really need to keep the edges cutting.

[thedude99]

Not a whole lot of info on the box besides the fact that it is a "Diecast Box".  This is the enclosure:
http://www.svetlana.com/ProductHighLight.aspx?ProId=1102

My drill is a DeWalt power drill.

My regular drill bits are Makita HHS.  I'm starting to wonder if they are dull.  It goes in a very little bit,  but no further.  No really shavings are coming off, just fine aluminum dust.  I'm not drilling high speed.

I suspect the post about drill bit quality might be dead on, or possibly my drill bits are dull.

[Ice-9]

Yeah, Standard cast ali boxes your drill should go straight through those unless they are blunt. I tend to give my drill bits a skwirt of spray cutting oil and I drill about 10-20 boxes each week and the drills are still as sharp as they were 2 years ago. I would say get yourself a decent set of drill bits and and a good step cutter. I think the ones I use are cobalt drills

[thelonious]

^ +1

I use small amounts of dish soap and water in a 1:2 mixture as a lubricant instead of cutting oil. Works for me. My experience is similar to davent's - "Gold dust on a junk bit does't make a better piece of junk." My Irwin bit has lasted a lot longer than the cheapie gold step bit I had previously.

If you ever get to try a step bit in a drill press on slow speed... you will realize it's worth it to invest in a drill press if you are going to drill enclosures with any regularity. Buy a used one or look for a good sale.

[Ice-9]

^+1  for the drill press as well, which you can even buy cheaper than an electric hand drill if you look in the right places.

[PRR]

"Die-cast" almost always means a Aluminum and Zinc mix, which is generally very easy to drill, even with good low-cost bits.

Sizes up to 1/4" can usually be run at the maximum speed of a hand power drill.

I have had low-cost bits, even Name Brand, that were crap from the start.

It is odd you have a problem with both normal bits and step-bits (two different types and presumed sharpness).

[Jdansti]

What everyone else said, but I'll add that you might want to start with a smallish pilot hole which will allow the larger bit to grab and start cutting.

[armdnrdy]

If your drill bits can't drill enclosures but can drill holes in a carrot...you can still make a music related project.

[italianguy63]

9mm's still make nice 3/8" holes.. Solves the problem of the input/output jacks anyway...

MC

[deadastronaut]

man, those NSC boxes are a bstd to sand too....made of tougher stuff than hammond/eddystones for sure

i had to etch one and it was a really tough job...its like they have a hardened shiney coating to get through...never again.

[thedude99]

man, those NSC boxes are a bstd to sand too....made of tougher stuff than hammond/eddystones for sure

i had to etch one and it was a really tough job...its like they have a hardened shiney coating to get through...never again.

Good to know. Thanks.

I just drilled another Hammond with no problem.  Think I'm just going to write this one off and get a Hammond box.

Thanks everyone.

[davent]

Haven't noticed  whether it was mentioned but be sure to have a well defined center punch mark on the enclosure before you start drilling. Had to drill some stainless steel last week and had no problem starting with a 6/64" bit and working up to the required size, kerosene for cutting fluid.

Like John suggested i usually start with a 1/16" pilot bit then step 3/32, 1/8 and finally the step bit.

[Saint Louis Toneworks]

spend the 7-9 dollars and get a hammond especially if its for you

[deadastronaut]

+1 On small pilot holes too...

[thedude99]

I tried the center punch + pilot holes, that didn't work either. The bits wouldn't bite. I tried a few different sizes (1/8mm and smaller)

[Chugs]

Sounds obvious, but make sure your drill is turning the correct way.

First time I tried to drill a box I had exactly the same problem you are describing and then I realised I had the drill set to reverse.

[armdnrdy]

That reminds me of a "prank" we electricians play on apprentices.

When they're not looking...turn their hacksaw blade around to where the teeth are facing toward the handle.

With each forward stroke...it doesn't cut. Then you question their ability and cut right through it with a different hacksaw. 

[italianguy63]

Meanwhile-- at the workshop:

That reminds me of a "prank" we electricians elves play on apprentices.

Wherein Santa gets angry....