Drilling with Foredom

[cartres]

Hi All,
I recently purchased a Foredom pendant motor from Cousins UK. (https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/jewellers-kit-with-3-jaw-handpiece) It was an impulse purchase, one that I shouldn’t have made as I am still very new to jewellery making. Anyhow, I cannot seem to drill a hole in to a 2mm sterling silver sheet. I think I have spent 15 minutes trying to drill a hole and have only managed to go half way. If anyone can suggest what I may be doing wrong I would really appreciate it.
Thank you :)

Sofina

[metalsmith]

Hi All,
I recently purchased a Foredom pendant motor from Cousins UK. (https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/jewellers-kit-with-3-jaw-handpiece) It was an impulse purchase, one that I shouldn’t have made as I am still very new to jewellery making. Anyhow, I cannot seem to drill a hole in to a 2mm sterling silver sheet. I think I have spent 15 minutes trying to drill a hole and have only managed to go half way. If anyone can suggest what I may be doing wrong I would really appreciate it.
Thank you :)

Sofina

Well a few ideas anyway...
Prime the location for drilling by creating a small point depression using any number of small tools e.g. carbide tip. This not only gives the bit somewhere to start but reduces teh chance the bit will skid off location when drilling.
Pre-drill using a small drill bit (make sure the bit is appropriate for drilling metal)
Lube the drill-bit with a light oil, wax or bespoke product
Drill slowly - I don't know how slow a Foredom will go, but I usually use manual methods to start out.

Hope this helps

[Aurarius]

Hi All,
I recently purchased a Foredom pendant motor from Cousins UK. (https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/jewellers-kit-with-3-jaw-handpiece) It was an impulse purchase, one that I shouldn’t have made as I am still very new to jewellery making. Anyhow, I cannot seem to drill a hole in to a 2mm sterling silver sheet. I think I have spent 15 minutes trying to drill a hole and have only managed to go half way. If anyone can suggest what I may be doing wrong I would really appreciate it.
Thank you :)

Sofina
The motor has a forward and reverse gear. Are you sure you've not got it in reverse?
Also, have a look at the state of your drill bit under magnification. Is its tip in good condition?

[Dennis]

Dear Sofina,
As for your purchase, It will stand you in good stead for many years to come. Many beginners buy a Dremel and do come to regret it with good reason.

As for your drilling efforts, 2.0mm thick sheet takes some persistence, but you have not said what size drill you are using.

Assuming it is a twist drill, new and sharp, and is not going in reverse, then:

1. Run it only at a medium speed, using oil or candle grease as a lubricant.
2. The drill should never turn blue, or it will loose its effectiveness.
3. If the hole size is to be more than say, 1.0mm, then drill a smaller hole first, and once through, change to the final size.

Drills are liable to snap off doing this and are then the devil to remove. So use only medium pressure and keep you handpiece upright and steady. Also remember eye protection, or you might get a piece of metal in your eye.

Dennis.

[ps_bond]

What size drill bit and is it sharp?
Larger twist drills usually come sharpened with a web between the cutting flutes, which doesn't cut - hence the need to drill smaller holes first when using larger drill bits.
You'll need some downward pressure too, how much comes with feel.
Clear the swarf from the hole occasionally so it doesn't pack (not that much of an issue in that thickness with e.g. a 1.0mm drill)

Everything suggested by metalsmith & Dennis will help.

[Dennis]

Ha, if you look at the timing of the last four posts you will see that we were all typing simultaneously.

[cartres]

Thank you for the speedy replies and sorry for missing out vital information. Just to clarify i am using a brand new 1mm twist drill, i have started off with a small drilling point and using oil to lubricate. As far as i can tell i am doing everything you all have suggested, but still having no luck. I have used a pendant motor in a few jewellery classes i attended and i dont recall finding it this hard to drill a hole. Should i be using a smaller drill bit then 1mm?

[BarryM]

Double check that it is not running in reverse - the switch on the motor has three settings forward, off and reverse. Make ABSOLUTELY certain that the drill is rotating the correct way. A 1mm hole in 2mm silver should go through in a less than a minute or so. Follow all the suggestions above.

Edited to add - if you have the quick release handpiece make sure it is properly closed (the flip handle in line with the body of the handpiece) and that the drill is the correct size (2.35mm shaft). Otherwise the jaws in the handpiece will not be gripping the drill and it will never drill a hole.

[FineJewelleryandArt]

Cartres, check the direction. At the top of the motor is a black three way switch for Off, Forward and Reverse. From your description it sounds as if the motor is running in reverse as has been mentioned in the previous answers. Nice tool by the way.

[cartres]

It is definitely not in reverse, I've checked this several times now. Ive now tried using my 2mm burr to drill into an existing hole but even the burr is not shifting any metal. I guess this tool is definitely way too advanced for me.

[Aurarius]

I guess this tool is definitely way too advanced for me.
A pendant drill isn't too advanced for anybody; something is fundamentally wrong, whether it's with the machine, your drill bits or your technique. For a start, can you show us a close-up image of your drill bit in the chuck and the hole in the metal you're trying to drill? I know you've said it's not in reverse. To confirm this, can you tell us which way the drill bit spins when you turn on the power?

[Dennis]

No, your machine is easy enough for any one to use.

Check once more that you are using twist drills similar to these; http://www.cooksongold.com/category_select.jsp?query=mounted+drills

That they go round in the hand piece, are tightened enough with your key and do not slip.

Also reverse the machine switch and see whether that improves things.

Failing all that, try to talk to someone who is handy with an ordinary household drill for home improvements, as in drilling holes in walls. Their tools are very similar and they will know instinctively what is wrong. Dennis.

[Aurarius]

Also reverse the machine switch and see whether that improves things.

That's good thinking, Dennis; there's always the slim possibility that Sofina is using left-handed drill bits and doesn't know it. A photo showing the orientation of the drill flutes will answer that question, assuming the image hasn't been flipped before posting!
Mark.

[cartres]

Thank you all for the help. When the machine is swithced on the drill spins clockwise, i have tested both the forward and reverse and still can not see a difference. I have attached a few images, hopfully this sheds some light on what i may be doing wrong. The drill bits i have purchased are from cooksons. Links to both are below. The 2mm silver has a few pre set stones, these i did at a jewellery class and was not with my foredom. All the tiny holes sourrounding the set stones is what i have done with the foredom. 816281638164

http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Hss-Twisted-Drill-1.0mm-prcode-970-100
http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Hss-Shank-Drill-1.0mm-Made-From----High-Speed-Steel-By-Busch-prcode-971-175

[Aurarius]

You're showing us two different drill bits there. The all-silver-coloured one looks fairly normal to me; the one with the black shank appears to have no tip to it. Which of these two bits is the more troublesome to cut with?

[cartres]

I can not seem to drill with either. They drill bits are new i used them for the first time yesterday. I can not seem to shift any metal with the drill or burrs. All of which are new. I have tried everything suggested in the comments, but nothing seems to be working for me.

[Aurarius]

Your black bit doesn't look to be in very good shape, as I've said. If it's really not, you won't find it easy to cut with.

But if you can't get your other bits (and even your burrs) to cut then possibly your technique is to blame. How much downward pressure are you exerting on the bit when you drill (enough so that the bit has no tendency to skip around would be a minimum), and is the silver firmly supported so that it doesn't "give" in response to pressure from the drill bit when you're drilling into it?

In the meantime, have a think about the way you did things at college and try and find something that's different about your present set-up and/or technique.

ETA: I forgot to ask: what speed are you drilling at? Slow, medium, fast?

[Dennis]

I would go with my last suggestion. Invite a person who is handy with a domestic drill round for coffee and they will quickly suss it out. The most likely thing now is that the drill is slipping in the handpiece.

The drill with the dark 2.35 shank is an HSS drill and has a different profile, but still OK if new.Dennis.

[josef1]

have you tried drilling another bit of metal. maybe the end of the black drill has snapped off in the metal you will find it difficult to drill then if not impossible. Are you using ball burrs or setting burrs ? setting burrs don't cut very well you need to open then up with a ball burr first. Also you could try drilling a small piece of wood and get you technique down. Drilling a 1mm hole is difficult till you get a feel for it the drills are very brittle and snap at the slightest provocation if you don't hold them square. Im sure if you posted a video of the problem and you drilling, you dont need to be in the shot, it would give members a better idea how to help ?

[susieq]

That's good thinking, Dennis; there's always the slim possibility that Sofina is using left-handed drill bits and doesn't know it. A photo showing the orientation of the drill flutes will answer that question, assuming the image hasn't been flipped before posting!
Mark.

There are left-handed drill bits? Never knew that!

So sorry you are having trouble Cartres, it must be very very frustrating for you - I have a foredoom and if I can use it anyone can, so there's a simple solution out there somewhere. I do, however, manage to break a fair few drill bits with mine, especially the fine ones.

Hoping you have your answer soon, Susie.

[Aurarius]

There are left-handed drill bits? Never knew that!

Yes, it's not an apprentice joke this one.

"Left-handed" (alternatively "left-hand") needs some qualification: hold a regular drill bit in front of you with the tip pointing upwards; the flutes curve upwards to the right. On a left-hand drill bit the flutes curve upwards to the left. I'm not sure what all the uses are of a left-hand drill bit, but one very handy one is to enable you to drill into an embedded bolt or screw whose head has snapped off and extract it using the rotational force of the bit. It doesn't always rotate the bolt out, but often does. If it doesn't there are other means you can resort to.

[Patstone]

I tried using my Foredom for drilling holes, and neither handpiece, either the quick release or the key chuck one worked in thick silver, I resorted to buying a stand drill in the end. My problem was probably not having a left eye, you cant judge distance and have to spend ages lining things up, but with a foredom I couldnt see if it was exactly upright.

[cartres]

Thank you all very much for all the feedback and suggestions. I am pleased to say i have finally figured out what i was doing wrong. I have the 3 jaw hand piece, i assumed if I tightened it on one end that would be enough. The drill bit was definitely secure, but once i tightened all 3 sides it worked perfectly. Once again, thank you all for all the help and support, if it wasn’t for you all I wouldn’t have figured it out 

[Dennis]

Thank you for letting us know the happy ending. However it will make you struggle on with the same burr or drill rather than change it when you are busy. So sometime in the future I would suggest you go in for a quick release handpiece. Dennis.

[medusa]

Thank you all very much for all the feedback and suggestions. I am pleased to say i have finally figured out what i was doing wrong. I have the 3 jaw hand piece, i assumed if I tightened it on one end that would be enough. The drill bit was definitely secure, but once i tightened all 3 sides it worked perfectly. Once again, thank you all for all the help and support, if it wasn’t for you all I wouldn’t have figured it out 

that's weird. I have the same thing and drill 2mm holes into 2mm thick sterling all the time and I've never had to tighten all three sides. I assumed that it just tightens the same as with a regular chuck irrespective of which hole you put the key into.

Anyway I was going to suggest my process which is: use a punch first, then I drill with a 1.5mm drill before using the 2mm drill bit. I drill very slowly and lube up with 3in1. I tend to only use drills 4 or 5 times though as they blunt fast, especially the small ones.

[johnmoto]

Have you made sure there is no metal broken off the drill and stuck in whole sorry to suggest the obvious but it
Happens if so leave in alum or some sort of strong acid and it will dissolve over night.