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Operating Tips — cont.
DRILL BITS
Always inspect drill bits for excessive wear. Use only bits that are sharp and in good condition.
TWIST BITS: Available with straight and reduced shanks for wood and light duty metal drilling. High speed bits cut faster and last longer on hard materials.
CARBIDE TIPPED BITS: Used for drilling stone, concrete, plaster, cement and other unusually hard non metals. Use continuous heavy feed pressure when employing carbide tip bits.
DRILLING WOOD
Be certain workpiece is clamped or anchored firmly. Always apply pressure in a straight line with the drill bit. Maintain enough pressure to keep the drill “biting”.
When drilling holes in wood, twist bits can be used. Twist bits may overheat unless pulled out frequently to clear chips from flutes.
Use a
You will drill a cleaner hole if you ease up on the pressure just before the bit breaks through the wood. Then complete the hole from the back side.
DRILLING METAL
There are two rules for drilling hard materials. First, the harder the material, the greater the pressure you need to apply to the tool. Second, the harder the material, the slower the speed. Here are a couple of tips for drilling in metal. Lubricate the tip of the bit occasionally with cutting oil except when drilling soft metals such as aluminum, copper or cast iron. If the hole to be drilled is fairly large, drill a smaller hole first, then enlarge to the required size, it’s often faster in the long run. Maintain enough pressure to assure that the bit does not just spin in the hole. This will dull the bit and greatly shorten its life.
DRILLING MASONRY
Soft materials such as brick are relatively easy to drill. Concrete however, will require much more pressure to keep the bit from spinning. Be sure to use carbide tip bits for all masonry work.