LED build - drilling holes in angles

George2324 said:
i have got the best quality bits from local hardware store but they don't drill through aluminium well.

I guess I need a specific type of bit I'm just not sure on the type like a tungsten carbide, or diamond drill bit etc. I have a tungsten carbide one atm it kind of has a flat head like it's for drilling through brick and mortar and it's doing nothing to the aluminium.
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You....uhh...clearly have no experience with tools...you can get a cheap black oxide bit that will go through aluminum....if you feel you are lacking ability, start with a smaller bit (making a pilot hole), then go up to the size you need...start slowly and re-adjust....Can't say how many rookies I have turned into carpenters.....
 
Airwalker16 said:
It helps immensely. Pick up some other drill bits too while you're there. If it's harbor Freight you're going to, get their Titanium Nitrite bits. They do work on metal. I've drilled holes 1/2" wide through an inch thick piece of aluminum nearly all the way through 3" deep by hand with them.

P.s. the Flat Headed bits you mentioned is probably your problem. Make sure they're tipped bits. 45* angle all the way around the center. A "V" looking at it.
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Harbor freight is total shit unless you plan to use it once and throw it away...Even then you are destined to fail....
 
George2324 said:
Must definitely be the wrong type of drill bit then.

Can you possibly send me a link to what you mean? I am struggling to find it locally.

I've found these: but they don't seem to match your description of a V angle.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Titanium-Nitride-Coated-Pieces/dp/B009RM356I
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The drills from amazon should work fine, but so should any HSS drill bit from a hardware store. BTW, normal drill point angles are 118° or 135° included, not 90° as mentioned.
 
George2324 said:
A drill bit won't drill through metal without a divot?

That could be my issue, after drilling my last unit I felt like I had just done ten thousand dumbbell curls on my arms from pushing so hard on the drill for hours
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Get yourself a cheap 8 inch drill press from harbor freight. They are under 70 bucks and frequently go on sale for 50. Even with a drill press, the tip will tend to "walk" without a center punch.
 
image_24936.jpg
$4 @ harbor freight. Spring loaded center punch-place the tip where you want it and push down. A spring releases and creates an indentation in the material-no need for pilot holes when drilling small holes for mounting heatsinks.
 
George2324 said:
I will at some point but they are very expensive here, well I could get the cheapest one which would be the equilavent of 100$ but I'd rather wait if I can and invest in a better model maybe Christmas or something
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Even a cheap one is better than none. use short drill bits with as little of the bit sticking out of the chuck as you can, will help reduce the tip wandering.

My one was marked down as it was returned and repaired.

When it comes to drill bits, taps and dies, take out the cash for engineering quality tools.
I do lots of projects with M3 screws for instance, so I have a larney set of M3 taps, and 2.5mm drill bits. I can recommend Dormer from Sweden.
 
Are you sure the angles are indeed aluminum?
Even with a wood drill you can drill thru aluminum like butter without needing your full weight.
Sounds somehow strange? Was it a stone drill on your first tries...?
 
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A good drill press is for sure a good investment because it's one of the most used tools.
But I think you don't want to wait and if you have a cordless screwdriver/drill, it should work too.
Any HSS drill even the 1$ cheapo's of e3ay should go through aluminum easily. Mark the place with a punch where you want to drill. You can even use a steel nail or screw and a hammer for the markings.
 
I have used tools plenty before but it seems everyone keeps mentioning the type of material the bit is made of and that's where my issue was.

I could have a drill bit made entirely of diamond but it wouldn't do shit it's the type of bit.

I had a bit specifically for mortar (the flat headed bits) the ones I posted of on amazon have a slight point on, gonna pick some of those up next week it should most likely solve the problem
 
images
You need a bit like the bottom bit in the pic. Top 2 are for wood, third one down is for masonry and the bottom is for metal.
 
GBAUTO said:
images
You need a bit like the bottom bit in the pic. Top 2 are for wood, third one down is for masonry and the bottom is for metal.
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Thanks that's where I was going wrong.
I had masonary bits gonnna pick up the bottom one titanium nitrate bits tomorrow

Wierdly the one I bought that turned out to be a masonary bit on the description of the website I bought it from it says multipurpose - steel, aluminium, brick which must be bullshit as it only goes through aluminium with me putting like 250 lb of pressure on it
 
George2324 said:
Thanks that's where I was going wrong.
I had masonary bits gonnna pick up the bottom one titanium nitrate bits tomorrow

Wierdly the one I bought that turned out to be a masonary bit on the description of the website I bought it from it says multipurpose - steel, aluminium, brick which must be bullshit as it only goes through aluminium with me putting like 250 lb of pressure on it
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Let us know how the titanium nitrite bits work!!!
 
i try with drills all the time, with that last hole you forgot. and it is 10x harder..... it will work for this project but it will be a pain. aluminum should be like butter, even with old dull drill bits. stainless steel is the mother F#$@ER

honestly its a low speed, in intervals. with cutting lube as ONE person recommended (has no one done milling before) iv blasted through bit after bit. and finally used cutting oil and a spray bottle of water. and haven't broken a bit since, and all by bits last 5x longer
any bit will work for aluminum but carbon and titanium will stay sharper and be easier to cool....

start a pilot hole
lube up
low speed
EXTREME PRESSURE
and if you are struggling. stop and cool off the bit and the piece.
its excessive friction that heats and ruins bits. it binds and breaks them as well as lower rigidity and increase damage.

dont push dangerously hard to where your going to slide everywhere. but in short, you would never be able to apply the downward pressure a drill press can.... you dont think its a big difference but it is...... one thing i find easiest is to drill on a piece of scrap wood vs a vice or just over air.... it stops the indentation and bending of the piece and makes the bit eat a bit easier
 
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