| By :
William Gabriel
Cutting through stone or metal is not as easy as it appears. Drilling a surface incorrectly could cause it to crack as well as damaging the equipment. When it comes to drilling through stone for example, it would be foolish to use anything other than masonry drill bits. Indeed, even those with barely a semblance of DIY knowledge will probably be able to pick up that information based on the name of the drill. Drilling through narrow pieces of metal is best performed with a step drill bit. They can also be used to bore through plastic and wood but their best function is to drill a precise hole in a thin sheet of metal. The cutting edge of a masonry bit is usually made from tungsten carbide which is combined with a shaft made from stainless steel. The tip has to be extra strong when dealing with concrete otherwise it will break and be ineffective. More traditional DIY enthusiasts enjoy the challenge of using a hand brace to drill into the stone. Using a hammer drill saves time and effort though it is not without its problems. The hammer action is quite punishing on the drill bit with cheap versions shattering due to the constant impact. Although it is tempting to push the drill at top speed through the material's surface, the rotational speed should actually be slowed down in the middle of drilling hard surfaces. Failure to do this has a tendency to overheat masonry drill bits. It is also a wise idea to pause and withdraw every few seconds to remove dust. A step drill bit is used in a step drill naturally enough and is designed so that the tip is the narrowest point with the shank being the thickest. This is because a step drill is supposed to increase the size of the hole the further it penetrates. When it is drilling a piece of metal, always protect your eyes because the metal shavings which fly loose have been known to blind people. Take the metal piece and center it with a punch before proceeding. Use a small drill bit to make a hole about the size of the tip of the step drill bit. Now comes the time to utilize the step drill. Place the tip in the pre-drilled hole and turn the drill on. Be patient as the drill is gradually pushed through. The aforementioned metal shavings will become too abundant if you don't pause every so often to remove them from the hole. As well as obscuring your view of the hole's edge, metal shavings also cause the drill bit to become stuck. The keys to drilling a perfect hole include using the right tools for the job, safety procedures being followed and patience. Step drills and masonry drill bits are tough pieces of equipment but can still be broken through misuse. Attempting to bore a hole at the first attempt without stopping to clean it will cause problems long before it has been finished.
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