Drilling stainless steel is not fun.

[don simon]

That's all I've got to say on the matter.

 

[quixote]

It's a pain, that's for sure! Plenty of oil and slow speed is all I can offer. It's a nightmare

 

[don simon]

It's a pain, that's for sure! Plenty of oil and slow speed is all I can offer. It's a nightmare

Got no lube, so slow, stop, cool down, go, slow, stop, cool down, go and repeat for about an hour or so. I'm just glad there were only three holes to do.
Job done now.

 

[rustic]

I bought some 4 & 6mm cobalt drills that are for drilling stainless.

However, when I started the project, I used aluminium square section tube.
So I can't say how good they were lol...

As Scotty in Star Trek once said... " The right tool for the right job laddie.." :augie

 

[nemofish2000]

Plus gas ,wd 40 is fine for drilling as it lubricates and cools the tip.

 

[solarman216]

Drilling stainless is a piece of cake, two tips, first take a masonry nail and make an indent where you want to drill, this does two things, it gives the drill cutting edges something to bite on and stops it wandering, second take a masonry bit and with a diamond whet stone sharpen it in the same fashion as a normal twist bit (only takes a few minutes) nice and sharp front edge, drilling is now virtually the same as normal steel except keep the speed low and the pressure high until just before you break through, then ease upon the pressure, a bit sharpened this way will last for very many holes, and is also very good for drilling tiles, no need for hammer, Rick

 

[makeitfit]

Got no lube,

All tips as said but "No OIL" ??
Dip stick

 

[macabethiel]

Centre punch start

As Solarman has posted I start with a decent centre punch indent and use a good drill on very slow speed.