Drilling Steel?

[Memory's Flame]

A friend gave me these beautiful shelves; the problem is that the anchors are steel and have no holes in them!! Is there an eay way to drill steel?? (I am a bit worried about breaking a bit!)

[semi]

I have virtually no knowledge of tools and hardware and stuff like that. But I recently bought a dremel and a special bit that carves stone. They must have similar things for drills, special bits that cut through steel. I just went to the hardware store, explained my project, and left with everything I needed. You can probably do the same. But I'm sure somebody with more knowledge will come along here soon and give you a better answer.

[misschief]

i don't know either. i know my husband went and bought special bits to put a lock on a metal door, so there is something that can drill metal. i'd go ask at the hardware store.

[Memory's Flame]

Well I'd rather not spend money if I don't have to *lol*

My boss at work told me it was possible; but left before he could tell me how *bangs head on door*

[flar7]

gonna need to spend some dough.
You can rent the appropriate drill from a hardware store that rents tools, tell them what you are drilling so that they can give you the right tool. A weak drill will burn up drilling steel. You will also need some special drill bits for the drill. These usually dont cost much and are easy to find at hardware stores.......ask for help. Tell them the thickness of the steel you wish to drill through so that they can suggest if you need more than one bit.....they wear out.

If the steel is very thick, this could entail a bit of real time and work. If less than 1/4 inch, you should be able to find all you need at local hardware/Ace or whatever lumberyard. Do not buy a drill for this, there should be somewhere that rents them.

[Memory's Flame]

It's only about a cm thick...

Thank you all for your advice!

[Rubber_Piggy]

It's only about a cm thick...

For steel 1cm is thick. Flar7 seven gave good advise, but left a few things out.

Make sure that the steel is not hardened in any way. You'll get nowhere no matter how big the drill, and will probably damage the tools. Also when you drill steel, once you start drilling a hole you do not stop until it is finished. If you stop with the hole half drilled for a rest, you may not be able to start again because the heating of the work has caused it to harden so that it is harder than your drill. This depends upon the grade of steel (you should be ok) but is a good practice, espeacially when you don't know the grade of the steel. Fianlly, always safety first, wear safety glasses and clamp your work down, you will do a lot of damage (possibly to you self) if the work moves while you drill.

Final note. The difference between wood drill bits and steel drill bits (unless you buy the super duper ones) is typically the angle they are sharpened at and a slightly different alloy. So a general purpose bit will cut steel, it just won't be as quick or clean when it does.

[-Ember]

Are these used shelves? It doesn't seem like they were hung with screws in the anchors before this (obvious-no holes.) If they were hung before, maybe you should ask your friend how it was done. If not, maybe ask at the hardware store for other options besides drilling through the anchors (sounds difficult enough that it can be messed up, and I doubt you want to risk the shelves....)

[Memory's Flame]

Before they weren't shelves; they were panels hung vertically from a rack the anchor for them went throught the plexi glas, and it wouldn't hold any weight if placed horizontally...

[ravenwood92]

The best an cheapest way would be to call a local machine shop and see if they would drill the holes for you. Not only is there issues with drilling the holes but accuracy of the hole can be hard to obtain with a electric hand drill. If you have just a couple of holes most machine shops won't charge you to make the holes. You can look up shops in the yellow pages.

[Rubber_Piggy]

The best an cheapest way would be to call a local machine shop and see if they would drill the holes for you. Not only is there issues with drilling the holes but accuracy of the hole can be hard to obtain with a electric hand drill. If you have just a couple of holes most machine shops won't charge you to make the holes. You can look up shops in the yellow pages.

That's a good call :thumbsup:

[E. Shadowblade]

Calling a Machine/welding shop might be your best bet. The welders could burn a hole through it, though unless they are very good, it might not be very clean. Most machine shops around here wound't charge for soething simple like that, if they do, it might be $5.
Seeing as how you are in CO, you might wnat to check some of the 4x4 aftermarket shops, they might do it if the Machine shops charge. My pop used to do a lot f buisness like that when we lived out there.

[RedPhoenix]

Everyone had great suggestions. I have worked in machine shops in the past and the info is correct. They could throw the brackets on a drill press and drill out the holes in no time, and probably no charge. If you decide to do this yourself I would recommend one more thing that has not been mentioned, you need to keep the bit lubricated while you are drilling. This keeps the bit and metal cooled down a bit and also helps make the bits last longer. An easy thing to use is WD-40, just spray it a few times while you are drilling.

[Rubber_Piggy]

It's funny that you may know how to do something, and do it every day without thinking about it, but when you expain it to someone you inevitably leave important things out.

Eg. basic rule of thumb when machining metal is to run a cutting oil/lubricant to prevent heating. Yet I foget to mention this despite talking about the risk of overheating. Then RedPhoenix sees this ovesight :thumbsup: and fills in the gap.

I guess it proves that the forum is superior because others can fill in you missing bits.