From: Ralph Seguin 
To: Eric Smith 
Cc: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: Ralph Seguin 


You would be much better off using a friends drill press or mill to get a
nice vertical hole.

Better yet, use this as an excuse to get a drill press...

If you can do so, then use a center drill first to get a nice small pilot
hole and then you can go with the full sized bit.  Set the speed right and
use sharp tools.
If you are going for a specific and accurate hole diameter, use a slightly
undersized bit (google search on drill chart) and then a reamer.
Or, you could use a boring head to get an accurately sized hole.

Or, use a friend's CNC mill and use G83 :-)

If you really have to do it with a drill motor by hand:
I would use a punch/scribe/... to mark the center very carefully.  Make a
small dimple that a drill bit will stay in while you start drilling.
You could go straight to the large bit, but starting small might be good. 
Once you have a pilot hole, you should be able to go with the full sized
drill.  The point of the punch is so the drill doesn't dance around.
Use cutting fluid to get a better cut and back out on occassion to clear the chips.
Try to stay perpendicular to the surface.

-Ralph

-+- Eric Smith  wrote:
>
> I need to drill a couple of 3/8" holes in 3/32"
> extruded aluminum box.
> I'd like these holes to end up where I actually
> marked them :)
>
> I do not have a drill press (or much else).  I DO
> have a drill motor and a
> vice.
>
> What is the best path to success:  starting out with
> a 1/16" hole and
> using successively larger bits until I reach 3/8",
> or just use the 3/8"
> bit straight away?
>
> I don't want to spoil my stock.
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>
>


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