Step Bit?

[BIGNASTY]

I have been working on the International getting straight stacks (muffler under truck) new Pete fuel tanks, Battery step boxes, Protech alum boxes and other accessories mounted on frame of truck. Been using a Step Bit and going thru them at a somewhat ALARMING RATE. They are not a cheap bit and Im not forcing the issue. SO WHAT GIVES???? just a fact of life? its a steel frame and not drilling that may holes. Need to get it done so I can take it them back off and start to sand and prime for new truck paint job.



Thanks for help

BIG

 

[BGlidewell]

they are meant for sheet metal

 

[BIGNASTY]

I told the guy what I had in mind for the use and he came back with another bit of the same design. I have used these before on Truck Frame material but just not as many holes to drill. Almost done anyway just wondering what gives

BIG

 

[seafish]

Is it only the first step (pilot) that is wearing out, or each and every step that you drill to?

If it is the pilot step, then just use a regular drill bit to locate and drill the pilot, then follow up with the step bit to the depth that you need. A freind who worked in mobile home construction gave me that tip.

I have used the cheap step bits from Harbor Freight in up to 1/4" steel and they have continued to work fine, but only on an occasional use, not production use, basis.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Is it only the first step (pilot) that is wearing out, or each and every step that you drill to?



If it is the pilot step, then just use a regular drill bit to locate and drill the pilot, then follow up with the step bit to the depth that you need. A freind who worked in mobile home construction gave me that tip.



I have used the cheap step bits from Harbor Freight in up to 1/4" steel and they have continued to work fine, but only on an occasional use, not production use, basis.

Thanks for the tip! I have been drilling a location hole or starter hole to start the step bit without wandering all over the place. And Yes I have been using the same depth on the bit, so its not that its not! working its just that it wears out the bit so fast. Its like everything else THEY HAVE GOTTEN CHEAPER MADE than in the past I guess.



BIG

 

[PMould]

Big,I think the cornbinder framerails are heat treated, that will eat up bits fast:-laf you do have the drill in foward ?:-laf just kiddin. my 2 cents. pete.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ya the drill is in forward
and I always use the left handed metric crescent wrench on the round nuts that have reverse thread

I would suspect that all frame rails are heat treated aren't they????

BIG

 

[mwilson]

I was always told that the bit dulls when you go through the rail to finish the hole. .



Nest time you might have better luck with a handful of bits of one size, a magnetic base drill (if you don't have one already) and a quality tapered reamer bit to open the holes up. That is what most of your pro body mounting folk do. So if the hole is not quite where you want it or hole is too small they just hit it with the reamer.

Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I was always told that the bit dulls when you go through the rail to finish the hole. .



Nest time you might have better luck with a handful of bits of one size, a magnetic base drill (if you don't have one already) and a quality tapered reamer bit to open the holes up. That is what most of your pro body mounting folk do. So if the hole is not quite where you want it or hole is too small they just hit it with the reamer.



View attachment 84282



Mike.

Mike!! I just gave myself a headache from doing the, I COULD HAVE HAD A V8 HEAD SLAP!!!! I forget about having you and your encyclopedia of knowledge at hand or from your work colleagues, thanks



BIG

 

[JR]

We use slugger bits on all our mag drills and weve got the chuck for the big drill press in the shop to swap out for the sluggers. Theyre real expensive, but you can chew through 1 inch steel like a hole hawg going through wood.

 

[BIGNASTY]

D4L
Im just using it to bore holes for mounting alum. boxes , fuel tanks, alum steps, light bars flap hangers, exhaust stand-offs to the international truck. Im sure that there are a multitude of things doing it better than the way I am but the blisters will heal and skin grows back on the knuckles when the drill catches and breaks a wrist. It will soon be over and then take it apart and take the old girl to the paint shop for a fresh face lift. It sounds tough with a small muff under the truck and a set of straight stacks but its roar is more than the bite

 

[JR]

I use step bits around the house too, BIG. Theyre handy little gadgets to have. I wouldnt want to ever chuck a slugger in a hand drill, it would be like a ride on the merry-go-round when it caught :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

:-laf:-laf:-laf



I took it for a drive to see what the exhaust note would be like, BIL was outside his house and I stood on the truck with the automatic it shifts lightning fast. BIL said to himself man that guy driving that truck that he heard in the distance CAN REALLY THROW SOME SHIFTS!!! until I turned the corner of his drive and he said F-in BIG always playing around. :-laf



BIG

 

[Jim W]

Another point; are you using a light machining oil on the drill bit to cool it as you drill. Heat will wear out the bit just as fast. Whenever I need to drill into a frame rail (or steel) I will always use 3M machining oil on the bit to cool and help takeaway the cuttings from the drill. It does get a little sloppy but I place some cardboard on the ground under the drilling area to catch the droppings.



Just another idea on pro- longing the life of the drill bit when drilling.



Jim W.

 

[mwilson]

Another point; are you using a light machining oil on the drill bit to cool it as you drill. Heat will wear out the bit just as fast. Whenever I need to drill into a frame rail (or steel) I will always use 3M machining oil on the bit to cool and help takeaway the cuttings from the drill. It does get a little sloppy but I place some cardboard on the ground under the drilling area to catch the droppings.



Just another idea on pro- longing the life of the drill bit when drilling.



Jim W.

The oil does help a lot, plus slow the drill down. That is why the magnetic base drills work so well, they drill slower and you can apply the pressure in a consistant manner. Back in the day my father and I would do it using a chain around the frame, then use that chain as a base for a pry bar against the back of the drill to keep a steady pressure.



When we did a double framed glider kit with blank frame rails it was still a long process doing 100 or so holes... ... .



Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Another point; are you using a light machining oil on the drill bit to cool it as you drill. Heat will wear out the bit just as fast. Whenever I need to drill into a frame rail (or steel) I will always use 3M machining oil on the bit to cool and help takeaway the cuttings from the drill. It does get a little sloppy but I place some cardboard on the ground under the drilling area to catch the droppings.

Just another idea on pro- longing the life of the drill bit when drilling.

Jim W.

I was using the old 3 in 1 oil but not enough of it most likely

 

[S.Morris]

Ha! Are your arms as big as they used to be Mike?

 

[jhenderson]

Careful with a pry on a hand drill. Years ago, I borrowed a taper chuck Milwaukee drill to work on a dump hoist. My buddy ran the pry while I ran the drill. The bit grabbed , the drill spun, caught me in the gut, picked me off the ground and pinned me under the dump body with my finger held against the trigger by my fat gut. My buddy was laughing so hard he couldn't unplug the drill motor. At least that's what he claimed.

 

[mwilson]

Careful with a pry on a hand drill. Years ago, I borrowed a taper chuck Milwaukee drill to work on a dump hoist. My buddy ran the pry while I ran the drill. The bit grabbed , the drill spun, caught me in the gut, picked me off the ground and pinned me under the dump body with my finger held against the trigger by my fat gut. My buddy was laughing so hard he couldn't unplug the drill motor. At least that's what he claimed.

Always handy to have help like that... .



I worked with someone that could have been his brother I believe... ... . :-laf



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

:-laf:-laf:-laf



I took it for a drive to see what the exhaust note would be like



BIG

So, how did it sound? What size, length and tip type? Better not be Bull hauler stacks:-laf



Nick