If you want to fasten stainless steel sheets somewhere, you will usually rely on screws. That is the preferred method - and it simultaneously presents a challenge, because before you can screw a sheet on, you first have to drill holes into stainless steel. To make sure it succeeds, we provide a short guide.
We reveal which tools you need for drilling stainless steel and how to drill holes of various sizes into a stainless steel sheet, step by step. Don't worry: it is far less difficult than cutting stainless steel sheet or bending sheets. Nevertheless, for an optimum result you should take a little time and work calmly.
What do you need for drilling stainless steel?
Naturally, you need a drill - or at least a cordless screwdriver - if you want to drill stainless steel. It is important that the speed can be adjusted on the device; more on that later. Not everyone will have the right drill bits for stainless steel in their toolbox, but they are not that expensive - it is well worth investing in your own equipment here.
It is also important to use a centre punch, for which you also need a hammer. To finish the drilling work, a file is used for deburring. You should never skip this step, because otherwise metal fragments could interfere when screwing on the sheet.
In addition to the tools mentioned, you also need a pen for marking and a cooling lubricant that must be applied to the drilling point. WD-40 has proven itself for drilling stainless steel. Once you have all these things together, the drilling can begin.
What is to be drilled?
To select the right drill bit, it must first be clarified what kind of stainless steel sheet is to be drilled - there are differences due to the various alloys. Material thickness also influences which drill bit to use: for a 10 mm stainless steel plate you need a different bit than for a 2 mm stainless steel sheet.
The first hurdle to clear is obtaining the stainless steel sheet to be drilled in the first place. If you want to be on the safe side, order a made-to-measure sheet from the professionals. At ESC Burg, we have specialised in producing individual sheets from various stainless steel alloys for our customers. We take on millimetre-precise cutting and can also offer further services: alongside surface treatment, we offer forming with professional machines.
Preparation: which drill do you want to use?
Before you can start, you must decide on a drill. The choice is between a bench drill and a hand drill, both of which have advantages. If you only want to drill through a thin stainless steel sheet, you could also use a cordless screwdriver.
Bench drills are particularly well suited to small objects. On most models, the drill bit is cooled with cutting fluid automatically. With a hand drill, on the other hand, you are far more flexible, because you can use it anywhere - including on very large workpieces that do not fit under a bench drill.
Regardless of which tool you use to drill stainless steel, always pay attention to your safety. That means you should always clamp the workpiece. The only exception is workpieces so large and heavy that they cannot slip.
Selecting the right drill bit
Conventional twist drills are usually used to drill holes into walls or wood. But if you want to drill into stainless steel, you must use a special bit. Because stainless steel is a hard material, you must in any case use a type H bit (hard materials).
Most bits of this type are made of HSS, i.e. high-speed steel. They are available in various alloys intended to reduce bit wear. HSS-G bits are very well suited to drilling stainless steel. Under no circumstances should you try your luck with a masonry bit, even though it is also designed for very hard materials - it is intended for mineral, not metallic, materials.
Step by step to the perfect drill hole
To achieve an optimum result when drilling stainless steel, first read our guide and then work through it step by step. It really is important to work calmly. There is no reason to rush - quite the opposite, because the metal and the bit can heat up.
Step 1: Mark the drilling point
To carry out an exact hole in stainless steel, first mark the spot where you want to drill with a washable pen. Measure precisely for this.
Step 2: Centre-punching
This small step is very important for safe working. The centre punch is placed on the spot to be drilled and then given a firm blow with the hammer. This creates a small indentation in the stainless steel. It serves as the starting point for the drill bit and prevents it from slipping when the drill is switched on.
Step 3: Prepare the drill
The bit must be clamped securely. The cutting oil for cooling the bit must be within reach, and the speed must be set correctly. There are a few guidelines for this: the speed depends on the diameter of the bit. The following recommendations apply:
- 1.5 mm diameter - 1,250 revolutions/minute
- 3 mm diameter - 800 revolutions/minute
- 5 mm diameter - 630 revolutions/minute
- 10 mm diameter - 450 revolutions/minute
Step 4: Drilling
With one hand, place the drill on the marked point. In the other hand, hold the cutting oil or cooling lubricant to apply it continuously to the drilling point during drilling. This minimises the risk of jamming.
Step 5: Deburring
Now deburr the drill hole with the file. This works best with a round file smaller than the bit used. To prevent rust afterwards, only a file that has been used exclusively for stainless steel may be used.
Our tip: try it out first
Drilling stainless steel is nowhere near as difficult as you may have thought at the beginning. Nevertheless, we have one more practical tip.
Before drilling at the spot where you cannot afford a mistake, make a test hole. Handling the cutting oil in particular will be unfamiliar to many people. If you order an individual sheet from us, you could, for example, order a much smaller sheet of the same thickness for practice at the same time - unless you happen to have an offcut lying around at home.
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