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what drill is best?
Hi troops!
this might sound obvious, but i have to drill hundreds of small signs with 5mm holes into aluminium and composite. is there a better way to do it other than with a cordless?
the bits are going blunt quick and after a few holes the vinyl gets a little grubby around the hole. same thing happens when stacking them.any advise would be great. 👍
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5 Replies
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Perhaps try a step drill bit, like this.
https://www.screwfix.com
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thanks for the reply david.
what does a drill like this do that a normal drill doesnt?
i thought these were for drilling different sized holes using one single bit. 🤓 -
A pillar drill can help, especially with drilling harder materials, and if you have a small jig to slot the corner of the signs to hold them, you can get a consistent hole placement every time.
The downside is that if the signs are over a couple of feet in size, it’s not going to be much.
Ive also found that unless you buy a decent one, even if small, they are not spinning 100% true.Clamping small piles of signs together and using a power drill with a sharp bit will help. But don’t use a blunt bit, as it can heat up and chew the vinyl if you are drilling after they have been laid up. Also, if you do not clamp them properly, you can also get the metal debris caught between the sheets/signs.
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We use paper drill bits for Correx and Foamex (not ACM), and they work brilliantly. I was sceptical at first about how long they’d last, but they perform really well and cut perfect holes.
(edit. Sorry Mark, doesn’t answer your question at all, but I thought it might be useful anyway!)
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@Paul-Stenning.
Every day is a school day!
I have never heard of a drill bit for paper. Thanks for the Link, Paul. Handy to know, mate. 👍
The curiosity got the better of me, and I had to have a look. 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVhL7Tqdqc
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