Drill bit cooling system for drill press

[hairy_apple]

I started thinking about making some kind of home made fluid pumping system to keep drill bits cool after burning up a $30 drill bit this weekend drilling 18mm holes into 3/8 metal. Pissed me off bad as you can imagine. I was being pretty good about trying to keep cutting fluid on it, but I didn't do a good enough job and damaged the bit. Part of the problem was I needed another hand to keep squirting cutting fluid onto it.

I thought about it a little and I think I might buy a harbor freight or other cheap parts washer. Then use the pump and such out of it to make it just constantly squirt cutting fluid/coolant onto the drill bits while I am drilling lots of big holes in thick metal. Have the fluid go down into a tray I can mount under the table. I am hoping that it's not too much pressure.. I don't want to spray it everywhere.. just run a stream onto the area being drilled.

Has anyone done anything like this? Thoughts? Ideas to add. I'll post some pictures once I come up with something.

 

[iwashmycar]

Wonder if one of those aquarium pumps would do? Probably cheaper than a "cheap parts washer"

 

[hairy_apple]

I thought of that but was concerned the cutting oil might be too thick and or break down the plastics in a cheap fountain pump.

 

[tag3]

Was wondering if the aquarium pump pumping air would cool it down enough?

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I looked into this before..

http://bedair.org/Grizzly12x/GrizzlyG4003G5.html

J

 

[scrapdaddy]

Apple,

Just thinking out loud and covering the bases here. Are you stepping up enough, to a 3/8th hole. Pilot hole and maybe two more sizes to 3/8ths. Clamp metal down tight, so you have the one hand free to lubricate. I don't like to use Stainless for this reason, hard on bits.

Last idea, buy a Drill Doctor. I have one and it works good.

 

[45Kevin]

How about a gravity feed?

A tube that will allow 1 drop per second, or more.

 

[hairy_apple]

A gravity feed would work fine.. I had thought about just a bottle with a hose coming down and a valve.. but.. I want to make something I don't have to refill and think about more then just turning it on when I start drilling.

Scapdaddy.. I am drilling 18mm holes into 3/8th plate. I cut 1/4 holes to with the plasma to start them, and step up from there. Part of the issue is getting through the first drill... the plasma hardens the crap out of the holes and getting through the first time is rough on drill bits. Even once I've got the hardened areas removed, it's still a lot of metal to remove!

The bucket idea up there is perfect. Almost exactly what I was thinking. I love it. I might have to go find a fountain pump and bucket tomorrow. I want to set up some kind of switch I can turn on and off with my foot. I'm going to start making the "box" to go under the table tonight to collect the fluid tonight.

 

[hairy_apple]

A gravity feed would work fine.. I had thought about just a bottle with a hose coming down and a valve.. but.. I want to make something I don't have to refill and think about more then just turning it on when I start drilling.

Scapdaddy.. I am drilling 18mm holes into 3/8th plate. I cut 1/4 holes to with the plasma to start them, and step up from there. Part of the issue is getting through the first drill... the plasma hardens the crap out of the holes and getting through the first time is rough on drill bits. Even once I've got the hardened areas removed, it's still a lot of metal to remove!

The bucket idea up there is perfect. Almost exactly what I was thinking. I love it. I might have to go find a fountain pump and bucket tomorrow. I want to set up some kind of switch I can turn on and off with my foot. I'm going to start making the "box" to go under the table tonight to collect the fluid tonight.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

As simple as it gets for a footswitch IMO..

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LJ6KUK/?tag=ihco-20

J

 

[Flump]

If you're using normal bi-metal bits then try the TCT Metal Hole Saw bits like these http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-100mm-St...418?pt=US_Hand_Tools&var=&hash=item4182d4f7ea. Ive found that just drilling on a slow speed and with a shop vac nozzle held up to the edge of the bit is enough cooling to go through 10mm plate pretty easily. You know when you've got the drill speed right when you start to see ribbons of steel coming out from around the hole saw. Just lift the drill bit out every 20-30 seconds and vac the hole and the drill bit for a couple of seconds then go again. I've done holes up to 32mm diameter through 10mm/ 3/8" plate and the plate, metal plug and drill bit are all cool enough to touch after you finish drilling. I won't be buying bi-metal hole saws ever again for cutting steel, they just burn up to easily.

 

[Jetboy]

Lots of shop drills and mills use fountain pumps. A big basin to collect the fluid, a pump, and a squirt assembly. Make sure the pump has a decent screen so shavings aren't flowing through it and it should last a while. I'd probably think about some magnets along the intake as well. The pumps used for other tools like tile saws are pretty much the same thing. I'd set it up with the regular drill switch so if flows whenever the drill is spinning. That's the way almost all of them I've used are. If you don't want the fluid you can just turn the spout back into the drain basin.

For the magnetic drill presses we use for beams and stuff, we usually use a water bottle and the straw from a wd40 can. Drill a little hole in the top of the bottle cap. Insert small straw. Then use as a handy squirt bottle to keep some fluid on the drilling area. A contact solution bottle works pretty well too.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

I have used a cheap squirt bottle from ace and a solution of water and dish soap for years. Had an old machinist friend teach me this, ans it works like a champ. How fast are you spinning the drill? Your also pretty accurate on the plasma hardening the metal. Could you build a drill jig, transfer punch the hole location and go at it with your pilot and big hols.

Also look into the 'fog buster'.

Matt

 

[RDC76]

X2 on the fog buster. We have a similar set up at work.

 

[Couch]

Are you using a drill press? I think it would be hard to make holes that large with a hand drill without damaging the bit (maybe your hand too) just because it will be a lot harder to align and control, you'd also probably have to drill smaller steps, both of which will make the bit more prone to catch and break the edge. Also, better to drill the starting hole, maybe 1/8", than burn it.

If you are using a drill press use coolant or oil, keep the speeds low enough (I'm sure you could find a chart online for speeds, and make sure what you are drilling is secure enough cause the drill can try to lift it, especially when it breaks through the bottom. Really all this applies with a hand drill too. I use a heavy cutting oil (like Ridgid thread cutting oil), usually just apply it with a small brush.

I think any of the ideas for a more elaborate coolant system might work well, I've thought about trying to make something similar too but never got beyond thinking. Just FYI water based stuff can get pretty funky after a while cause bacteria or something starts growing in it.

If you have a bench grinder it would be worthwhile to learn how to sharpen drills, it takes some practice but with what the big ones cost they aren't something you want to just throw out when they get dull or chipped, you probably don't want to wait for a new one anyhow. A drill gauge makes it easier to get the angles right but not sure it's always necessary, certainly much easier to learn with one though. Again, I'm sure you can find a lot more information on this from the internet.

You might already know a lot of this stuff, just trying to cover a lot of topics, hope it helps!