Drilling stainless steel

[pcad]

No, this isn't about drilling out the pins on a Revomaze. Much more mundane I'm afraid.

A favorite kitchen utensil broke and I'm expected to fix it some how. It's a stainless steel ladle where the long handle was spot-welded to the business end. The welds broke and I thought I'd just drill some holes in both pieces and bolt it together.

I don't have a machine shop. I have the typical small tools most people own. I have a portable battery powered electric drill and a moto-tool with a drill press like accessory stand.

I've snapped half a dozen bits and dulled a bunch of others. I can't make even one hole in this stuff. The handle is about 1/16" thick and the ladle is much thinner. If I can't get through the handle, I see no point to working on the ladle.

I know there are some machinists out there in revo-land. Any advice?

[left027]

Know anyone with a water jet cutter?

[pcad]

Um..., no. I don't personally know any one with a water jet cutter, laser cutter, or spot welder for that matter.

I was hoping for some useful advice on how I can do this myself. If needing a water jet or what-have-you is another way of saying I can't do it, fine.

In my line of work I meet lots of people. Eventually I'll run into someone that might be able to help me.

As far as replacing this, I might have to order it from Germany which is where it was bought originally. I haven't seen too many places selling spatzle/spaetzle equipment in the States.

[Manifestjp]

They make special drill bits to use with any type of drill that can go through concrete to tempered steel but they can get a little expensive. Might be more cost effective to just replace it but I'd check your local hardware store first. Also when your drilling through metal remember to have your working area well lubricated as t will help displace heat, friction, and you'll hopefully not break any of your bits. Hope that helps.

[maztec]

Honestly, I hand cut my spätzle. Serious Eats had an article on it recently, including slide show, that shows a way to do it that is fairly easy and quick. If you haven't tried hand cut, I recommend it!

As for a new spätzle maker, I have seen them available in Seattle and Portland. Sur la Table carries them and Williams Sonoma (they actually recommend the colander method) does from time to time too. Alternatively, you can get one from Amazon.com, but honestly I do not shop there.

If you really insist on drilling through stainless steel, you need a few tools. 1) A punch, to pre-dent it so you don't wander around. 2) A clamp, to hold it in place. 3) Lubricating oil to keep your bit cool. 4) A carbide drill bit or a titanium drill bit (both expensive). 5) Preferably two bits, a small one to do a starter hole after you punch the spot you want to put the hole, and a second one the size of hole you are going for. 6) Patience and lots of it.

Method for drilling stainless steel is roughly as follows: 1) Use a marker to draw an X on the spot you want to drill. 2) Use the clamp to hold the piece down. 3) Use a punch to put a dent in the spot you want to drill. 4) If the metal is flimsy, back it with a piece of wood or another piece of hard metal and reclamp it. Something pushing back makes it easier to drill through it. 5) Take the small carbide bit, and SLOWLY VERY SLOWLY run the drill on the spot where you want the hole, constantly run a small trickle of the lubricating/cooling oil onto the tip of the bit so that it doesn't burn out. If you go too fast, you destroy the bit. Just slow and steady and keep it lubricated. It will take a while. 6) Once the small bit is through pull it out, then repeat the process with the large bit.

Honestly, in order of preference for your options I would go as follows: A) Handcut your spätzle, you do it a few times and you'll never want to go back! B) Buy a new spätzle press from Amazon, Sur la Table, or somewhere else. C) Go to your local car body shop and ask them to weld the handle back on, it should cost less than $20 and get a good laugh. Take them a beer to make friends. D) Throw it in the trash can and just give up. E) Drill through stainless steel.

So you know, I've done a lot of drilling and welding of stainless steel in order to make my home brewing system. I can say without pause that stainless steel is amazing to use, but a real pain in the neck to work with.


Good luck!

[Paradox]

Know anyone with a water jet cutter?

Just like you expected me to have a laser cutter?

Whenever I drill through metal I put a small divet into the piece first using a hammer and a nail, that stops the drill bit sliding all over the place. Then I start with a small bit and work my way up to the size hole that I want.

It's most likely not a professional way to do it, but it usually works for me with minimum tools and skill.

(Essentially what Maztec just said)

[maztec]

Know anyone with a water jet cutter?

Just like you expected me to have a laser cutter?

Could just make your own . . . :

Plasma Cutter & Water Table: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFT__gESOfc
DIY Waterjet: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/cnc_plasm ... erjet.html
Homebuild Abrasive Waterjet: http://blog.chadalbrecht.com/post/2004/ ... r-jet.aspx
$50 Laser cutter: http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-c ... er-50-dol/
40W CNC Laser: http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php
CO2 Laser: http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Cutting-Laser

yaaah.. Now, if someone could make a Plasma waterjet lasercutter CNC, ooh.

[adamwest]

Hmmmm........spätzle................drool. buttery cheesy fried onion bits spätzle.......drool coma.

[left027]

My university machine shop has all of the tools I mention. I forget that they're not widely available. Although laser cutters should be. Holy crap are they useful.

[pcad]

Ahh, tools! Almost defines us as human. There are precious few examples of tool use in the animal kingdom and nothing that comes close to our ability to improvise and build on past experience and invention.

Now if only I had some. I always congratulate my wife on being human when I see her using tools. Somehow it seems as though she doesn't take this as a compliment.

Thanks for the advice. I met an aerospace machinist today and he suggested tungsten carbide tipped drill bits, slow drill speed, cooling fluid, and keeping the steel clamped. I'm sure I was using too high a speed and heating the bits too much. Apparently WC bits are available just down the street from work. I'll try them later this week.