How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill high-speed steel grade P6M5 or HSS according to the European designation? For example, we made a knife from a blade from a mechanical saw, and we need to drill holes in it with a diameter of 5-6 mm for pins to install and secure the handle pads.
The same operation may be needed to drill a hacksaw blade for metal from 1Х6ВФ steel, from which you can make some useful products. A piece of blade from a mechanical saw made of 9HF steel is suitable not only for making knives, but, for example, also non-standard keychains.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

Necessary tools and samples


All of the considered and other grades of high-speed steels are drilled using spear-shaped (feather) drills for tiles, having different designs. For example, shanks are made round or hexagonal, which is not of fundamental importance for the main work - drilling.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

They are freely sold in almost all construction stores or outlets selling all kinds of tools.What is very important, drills of this type and purpose are attractive because they are inexpensive.
Also, for drilling high-speed steels, you will need cutters of various shapes and designs. With their help, the accuracy, cleanliness, shape and required diameter of the drilled hole are ensured.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

We have to drill the following samples:
  • a piece from a frame saw made of 9HF steel.
  • blade from a hacksaw for metal made of steel grade 1Х6ВФ.
  • Mechanical saw blade made of HSS steel.

The process of drilling high-speed steel samples


Let's start with a hacksaw blade for metal. As a tool, we will choose a used tile drill bit, which has already been sharpened more than once on a diamond wheel. That is, for a long time nothing remained of the factory sharpening, which would have undoubtedly given the best result.
We insert our tool into the chuck of an electric drill and start drilling without the use of lubrication or cooling. We select low speed as the operating mode. We notice that the process is slow, but with some patience, after some time a conical depression appears on the blade, a kind of countersink caused by the shape of our drill.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

We drill until a tubercle appears on the other side.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

After this, we turn the canvas over and continue the process, focusing on the tubercle.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

Alternately drilling from one side to the other, we achieve an increase in the diameter of the hole until we get the desired size.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

The next sample is a blade from a frame saw. We select the drilling location at the base of the teeth, where the material has the greatest hardness.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

The process also does not proceed very quickly, but steadily. This can be seen by the gradually increasing volume of chips around the drill.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

We notice that the work goes faster if you slightly rock the tool from side to side. This helps remove chips from the cutting area.
We continue drilling on one side until the tip of the tool passes the entire thickness of the metal and forms a small tubercle on the other side of our sample.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

Since the thickness of the metal is greater than that of a metal blade, we will have to replace the drill halfway through the process or resharpen the one we are using. After this, we turn the sample over and continue drilling.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

After just a few turns of the drill, a through hole is formed. Continuing the process, we achieve the required diameter for the mating part.
Make the hole using a suitable cutter.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

In our case, it is most convenient to use a conical-shaped tool. It is easier and faster to achieve the required hole size and give it a cylindrical shape.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

After all, after using a feather drill with its large taper, the hole turns out to be different in diameter: closer to the surface of the sample it is larger, and in the center it is smaller.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

Let's start drilling the blade from a mechanical saw.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

To do this, we also choose a zone closer to the teeth, since in this place the metal is harder due to special hardening.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

The process seems to be faster compared to the previous two samples. This can be seen from the intensity of chip formation and the production of a through hole without drilling from the reverse side.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

One of the cutters will help bring the hole to the desired diameter and give it a cylindrical shape, as in previous cases.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

In practice, we have been convinced that any grade of high-speed steel can be drilled with ordinary Chinese feather drills for tiles, the main advantages of which are accessibility and a cheap price.Also in this case, standard cutters are useful, with the help of which the diameter of the holes is specified and they are given a cylindrical shape.
How to drill through any high-speed steel with a tile drill

Final Tips and Notes


Using linseed oil for drilling (it is used when working with stainless steel and contains oleic acid), it will be possible to increase productivity, sharpen the tool less often and improve the cleanliness of processing.
Practice shows that the process of drilling high-speed steels will become more productive if you first use drills of a smaller diameter, and then a larger one.
Some craftsmen use screws or screws made in Germany and used for concrete work as tools for drilling high-speed steels. Their distinctive feature is that on the head there is the letter “H” (Hardened - hardened).

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Comments (23)
  1. Guest Alexander
    #1 Guest Alexander Guests January 21, 2019 06:47
    15
    I don't really see any use in practice. Why do you need to rape your brain with such twists?
    1. Semyon
      #2 Semyon Guests 26 January 2019 21:34
      5
      I have a mini hacksaw for metal, you can’t find a blade for it during the day, you have to break and drill large blades to put it on a small one.
      1. Cse
        #3 Cse Guests 27 April 2021 13:44
        1
        Just release the metal (the blade can be heated with a simple lighter) and drill, then harden it. This is the simplest task; feeding a cat is more difficult.
  2. Guest Victor
    #4 Guest Victor Guests 21 January 2019 14:56
    12
    This is very useful advice, I haven’t tried it yet, but I think it will help in the future, please tell me what kind of glue is best to use to assemble the handle on the knife
    1. Evgen
      #5 Evgen Guests 21 January 2019 21:47
      6
      Epoxy resin.
  3. Guest Nikolay
    #6 Guest Nikolay Guests 21 January 2019 19:04
    5
    For drilling, I take a tungsten rod of the required diameter and burn a hole at high speed and then bring it to the desired size
    1. Guest Alexander
      #7 Guest Alexander Guests 22 January 2019 18:32
      2
      I used corundum powder from sandpaper and slowly drilled with the back of the drill.
    2. kiteblack
      #8 kiteblack Guests February 4, 2019 01:20
      3
      You can burn it with an acetylene torch or electric welding. Each method has its pros and cons... Regarding tungsten - thank you, I’ll try it if necessary...
  4. Guest Vladimir
    #9 Guest Vladimir Guests 21 January 2019 21:46
    3
    Interesting. If this is true, it will be very useful. After all, you don’t have to stupidly drill saws just for fun. Several times such situations arose with hardened steel. I tried welding, but this is the Stone Age and it doesn’t quite work out.
  5. Guest Alexander
    #10 Guest Alexander Guests 22 January 2019 20:56
    6
    It’s easier with electroplating. Cover with nail polish and clear out the places for the holes with a couple of nails and a charger, the work will be faster than with drills.
  6. Guest Sergey
    #11 Guest Sergey Guests January 23, 2019 09:37
    10
    Guys, there are drills for hard alloys, they cost about 400 rubles, buy them and don’t force your brains.
    1. Guest Nikolay
      #12 Guest Nikolay Guests 23 June 2019 18:58
      2
      Where can I buy?
  7. Antonio
    #13 Antonio Guests 25 January 2019 16:45
    4
    There is weak hardening in these places. Take a regular metal drill there.....
  8. Basil
    #14 Basil Guests 27 January 2019 20:04
    6
    at the drilling site, heat it with a candle and drill with a regular metal drill.
  9. Guest Mikhail
    #15 Guest Mikhail Guests 28 January 2019 15:54
    0
    Easier to break through and much faster.
    1. kiteblack
      #16 kiteblack Guests February 4, 2019 01:25
      4
      He himself punched the blades of any hand saws on wood with a cut-off unusable bat on the mandrel, with one light blow. But the blade from a mechanical saw will simply split upon impact...
  10. Igor Gordienko
    #17 Igor Gordienko Guests 28 January 2019 22:26
    3
    You can drill in water or oil (for cooling), you can’t find cutters - during the day with fire, unless you work at a large metalworking plant.