Cast iron is used for everything from cookware to safes.
Cast iron is created by melting pig iron, scrap iron and steel together. This mixture is poured in its molten state into a cast--whence the name--and is allowed to cool and harden. Cast iron is a perennially popular material because of its low cost and ability to be molded into a wide variety of shapes. Cast iron is easier to drill through the many other metals. The carbon in the iron keeps the drill bit cool, so no water or lubricant is necessary. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Position the cast iron in a way that gives the drill bit a clear path to the area to be drilled.
2. Place the tip of the center punch at the point where you want to drill the hole in the cast iron. Hit the other end of the center punch with a hammer to make a guide mark in the iron's surface.
3. Insert and lock the 3/16-inch high-speed steel drill bit into your drill. Set the speed on the drill to a low setting, about 500 RPM.
4. Set the tip of the bit into the mark you made with the center punch. Turn on the drill and keep steady pressure on the drill bit as it bores into the cast iron. Drill this narrow pilot hole to the desired depth or until the drill bit comes through the back side of the iron. Remove the 3/16-inch bit from the drill.
5. Insert and lock a larger bit into the drill that coordinates to the size of the hole you intend to drill. Place the drill bit's tip into the pilot hole. Turn on the drill to a low RPM setting again and, applying steady pressure, drill into the pilot hole until the size and/or depth of hole you need is achieved.
Tags: cast iron, Cast iron, center punch, drill into, pilot hole, drill into pilot, drill setting
