How to Pierce a Billet of Steel

Place the tip of a metal scratch awl at the point you want to drill and then strike the end of the awl with a hammer. This creates an indention in the steel, preventing the drill bit from ̶0;leading̶1; or tilting at an angle when you start to drill the hole. This is especially important if you plan to drill through a cylindrical or rounded shape.

Mount the billet into your drill press vice and then center the indentation directly under the drill bit. Raise the table so that the top of the billet rests approximately one inch below the tip of the drill bit. This gives you room to drop cutting oil into the hole while you cut.

Place several drops of cutting oil onto the drill bit and then turn on the drill press.

Rotate the press handle down slowly until the tapered portion of the drill bit drills completely into the metal surface. Once you have drilled the tapered portion of the bit into the metal, the bit will not ̶0;lead̶1; on you.

Raise the press handle and then fill the hole in the billet with cutting oil. Cutting oil keeps the drill bit cool and helps to keep the hole you drill smooth.

Drill approximately one-quarter inch into the billet and then remove the bit from the steel. Fill the hole with cutting oil.

Drill an additional one-quarter inch into the hole and then remove the bit again. Fill the hole with cutting oil again. Repeat this process until you drill through the entire billet.