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drilling Alu.

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weldingdog

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey whats up guys

so at work i have been working with a lot of Alu. lately. I find that i have to drill some holes from time to time. I have been using my really nice and sharp metal drill bits, but find that the Alu. dulls the bites after a few holes.

So my question is, is there bits made just for Alu. and if so what are they called and where can i get them? Money dose not matter as work would love to buy them for me.

thanks for the help..

Sean
 
#2 ·
My favorite for alum is the old Black and Decker Bullit drills. They leave little or no burr on the back side, and they don't walk on curved surfaces. They don't last long on steel though. So I only use for alum.
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#3 ·
Dull bits are usually the result of poor drilling technique, often running the wrong RPM or surface speed. Big bits need to be run slower than small bits to maintain the same surface speed, and differing materials need different surface speeds for the same size holes. I frequently see guys simply chuck up any old bit and run it at max speed, then wonder why it gets dull fast. A good machinists manual like Machinists Handbook, will cover drill speeds in materials. It may also cover suggested drill angles for different materials. One drill bit angle is not right for every material. Also not using or using the wrong coolant/ lube can often make a huge difference.
 
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#4 ·
As above, But also keep a nice steady pressure as you drill, Drill bits like to cut not rub.
 
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#6 ·
how can you say slow down when you don't know how fast he was turning, drill diameter, aluminum or al/alloy, etc. aluminum drilling speeds are two to four times faster than steel. some other problem here, something omitted by op. maybe he's sharpening his own bits.
 
#8 ·
I don't see how you could possibly dull a high speed steel drill bit cutting aluminum. Is it gumming up with aluminum sticking to the cutting edges? Saw wax or if you don't have parraffin canning wax rubbed on the bit every once and awhile will help the cutting action and prevent metal pickup.
 
#9 ·
Some aluminum alloys are very abrasive some have high silicone contents

When we would turn a lot of aluminum parts it would dull carbide lathe bits and milling bits
Grant you it took awhile

The company had ceramic bits that we used for major aluminum work
 
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#10 ·
I second the B&D bullet points if work is paying for them and the diameter fits into the lineup, or a step drill (pilot and major diameter bit in one..not a unibit) Also found TAP MAGIC for aluminum works well and smells like cinnamon in use rather than a nasty burnt oil smell.
 
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#11 ·
Coupebuilder said:
I second the B&D bullet points if work is paying for them and the diameter fits into the lineup, or a step drill (pilot and major diameter bit in one..not a unibit) Also found TAP MAGIC for aluminum works well and smells like cinnamon in use rather than a nasty burnt oil smell.
Click to expand...
We have some Tap Magic at work and I can't help but call it *** Tap Magic. Maybe I'm still a kid, but it does work pretty well. I would recommend wearing gloves during use though. It irritates my skin, not real real *** tap magic :p
 
#12 · (Edited)
Coupebuilder said:
I second the B&D bullet points if work is paying for them and the diameter fits into the lineup, or a step drill (pilot and major diameter bit in one..not a unibit) Also found TAP MAGIC for aluminum works well and smells like cinnamon in use rather than a nasty burnt oil smell.
Click to expand...
What's the difference between a unibit and step bit?

shovelon said:
My favorite for alum is the old Black and Decker Bullit drills. They leave little or no burr on the back side, and they don't walk on curved surfaces. They don't last long on steel though. So I only use for alum.
Image
Click to expand...
I can't find that bit in a 3/4" :( Anyone else have one comparable?
 
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#14 ·
Gamble said:
What's the difference between a unibit and step bit?


I can't find that bit in a 3/4" :( Anyone else have one comparable?
Click to expand...
This
Image


Or this
Image
 
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#16 ·
lotechman said:
I don't see how you could possibly dull a high speed steel drill bit cutting aluminum. Is it gumming up with aluminum sticking to the cutting edges? Saw wax or if you don't have parraffin canning wax rubbed on the bit every once and awhile will help the cutting action and prevent metal pickup.
Click to expand...
Try bacon grease. Works better for me than anything I have tried.
 
#18 ·
lotechman said:
I don't see how you could possibly dull a high speed steel drill bit cutting aluminum. Is it gumming up with aluminum sticking to the cutting edges? Saw wax or if you don't have parraffin canning wax rubbed on the bit every once and awhile will help the cutting action and prevent metal pickup.
Click to expand...
I use plain jane candle wax on everything that cuts aluminum, bandsaw blades, chopsaw blades, drill bits, even carbide cutters for die grinder. It's not that the bits are dull, they are gummed with aluminum. Try it, it works. All I do is work with aluminum, and rarely sharpen bits.
 
#19 ·
fdcmiami said:
that looks like an annular cutter and a hole saw. are those substitutions for the other b&d bit pictured?
Click to expand...

That's right. I change right up from Bullit drills to hole saws or annular cutters.
 
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