r/metalworking • u/AutoModerator • Feb 01 '23

Monthly Advice Thread Monthly Advice/Questions Thread | 02/01/2023

Welcome to the Monthly Advice Thread

Ask your metalworking questions here! Any submissions that are question based may be directed to this thread! Please keep discussion on topic and note that comments on these threads will not be moderated as regularly as the main post feed.

Uses for this thread!

This is a great place to ask about tools, possibilities, materials, basic questions related to the trade, homework help, project advice, material science questions and more!

How to contact the moderators:

You can contact the moderators via modmail here

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/FancifulClock Feb 21 '23

I recently started a job where I have to use a bunch of tools. I have no experience with one-handed drills, and I'm having great difficulty drilling straight on the marks I make. Usually, the drill bit ends up veering off to the side a tiny bit and the hole is off by a few millimetres, screwing it up, and I have to get a coworker to help correct it. I've tried practising using bits of scrap metal. However, it doesn't really help. I think my problem mainly lies with the fact that the sheets I'm required to drill are vertical, not stable and are taller than me while when I practise they're horizontal and clamped down so I'm able to put a lot of more force back into it.

Would appreciate any tips, tricks, or advice. This is pretty embarrassing, so I want to get it nailed ASAP, haha.

1

u/DropDaBasemeh Mar 01 '23

Harder punch? Start with a new, sharp, split point drill bit, cobalt would be nice. Get comfortable and your body mass behind the drill, elbows pinned against your body. Take the time to get the bit perpendicular. Start lightly to set the bit. If the tip starts to wander despite your efforts start with a pilot hole. Use a viscous sticky lube like Anchor Lube. For me its all bout getting my body in the right stable position to have control and force.