[Jewelry making - Article 00155] - Re: [Orchid] Slow drilling using a flex shaft

[Karen Christians]

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Hi Jamie,

    Karen here, author of the Flex-shaft book. 

    You have a dull drill bit. A sharp bit will chew its way through
    copper with no problems. For the perfectly drilled hole, follow these
    directions. 

    1) Make a tiny dent with either an automatic center punch found at
    any tool supplier, or even a nail and hammer. This creates a guide
    for the drill bit so it won't skip over the metal. 

    2) Lube your bit with Bur Life (waxy stick) or better the liquid
    variety, Bur Lube. A quick dip will do you fine. The feature of the
    liquid type is that not only do you create lubrication for your bit,
    but you maintain the sharp edges, causing the drill bit to "rip"
    through the metal. Just dab of the excess or spin it off in another
    container. 

    3) Once you have drilled through your metal, every other time you
    drill, dunk your drill bit in the lubricant and pulse the flexshaft
    just a little. The centrifugal action will spin off any loose metal
    bits and they will fall to the bottom of your container. Grit or
    metal shards will dull your drill bit quickly. The stick variety of
    lubricant is good for sawblades, but NOT drill bits or burs. If you
    plunge a clogged bur into the hardened lubricant, you are just
    transferring more grit back to the source. You need it OFF your drill
    bit or bur so it can continue staying sharp and doing its job. 

    4) Drill your hole. You will see a marked difference in a dull bit
    and a sharp one. 

    5) What are the best drill bits? Preferably, I like HSS which stands
    for High Speed Steel which are sharp and last longer, provide you
    take care of them. They are a little more expensive, but they last
    longer under higher speeds and friction. 

    Lastly, when you are at the "dent", make sure your drill bit is
    moving. You will ensure that the guide will do its job and you need a
    smaller dent. Keep a light hand on the handpiece and then lightly
    push. Let the drill bit do its job. 

Hope this helps!
k
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