Drilling hardened stainless

[Frankenstein]

squirting

That's all that matters sometimes. You people make me sick!

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

I need to drill a couple of small (5mm I think) holes through a 4130 cromoly dropout (about 5mm thick plate). I hope they're not meant to be threaded.
(I also am not equipped to anneal and reharden the bike frame and I would like to keep the powder coat.)
Should I use HSS, carbide or a sharpened masonry bit for drilling 4130 cro-mo?

 

[butre]

a good quality HSS bit should work on cromoly

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

a good quality HSS bit should work on cromoly

Thanks!

 

[Nate888]

let's all pitch in on a 220K PSI aerospace water jet cutter & be sure we get the job done

I wish, right?

I like the idea of annealing & re hardening, but the only torch I have available has trouble heating significant components past dull red, so I won't try that soon or anything

 

[butre]

you don't need a torch, a forge is easy enough to make. a coal fire and a fan with a few bricks to keep in the heat will get steel white hot pretty quick. cheaper than hitting it with the acetylene torch too, if less convenient. much better for melting down aluminum too if you want to start casting parts.

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

you don't need a torch, a forge is easy enough to make. a coal fire and a fan with a few bricks to keep in the heat will get steel white hot pretty quick. cheaper than hitting it with the acetylene torch too, if less convenient. much better for melting down aluminum too if you want to start casting parts.

The YouTube vids I've watched about making your own "bushcraft" knife from an old file use a simple forge like that. It does look easy, as long as you have the space for it.

 

[butre]

I have about 5 square feet dedicated to mine. it doesn't take much. if you've got your own dirt you've got space for it

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

I have about 5 square feet dedicated to mine. it doesn't take much. if you've got your own dirt you've got space for it

Yeah that's what I meant. Lol. Outside space.