there must be an easier way...

[medusa]

of making holes in silver.

I'm trying to make two holes 7mm apart in a strip of silver 1.7mm thick and 5mm wide. I need to make them big enough to get 2mm wire through. Every time I've done this it's been a nightmare. I use drills, pointy tip burrs and today I punched through with nails. Why is something that should be so easy so difficult? What am I doing wrong?

[mizgeorge]

I do this a lot for riveted stuff. I tend to start with a 0.8mm drill, then a 1.2mm, 1.6mm and finish off with a ball burr for a nice finish.

[medusa]

What kind of drill are you using? I've tried a basic metal drill but it hardly touches it.

[mizgeorge]

I use these: http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...prcode-971-173 (a fair bit cheaper bought in half dozens) with a foredom pendant motor. I tend to work at pretty low speeds and use lots of cut lube. I do tend to anneal the sheet before I start, and that definitely makes a difference.

[Goldsmith]

I buy my HSS drills from Screwfix, they sell them in packs of 10. 1mm drills only cost £2.02 for a pack of 10, so I don't mind if they break on me. See; http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-hss-...ck-of-10/38240
I use a pendant drill and I lubricate the drill each time I drill, with either oil or if I want to keep the surface relatively clean I drill into a candle to lubricate it, I do this before each attempt at drilling, you cannot lubricate too much. I actually use standard white candle for saw blade lubrication also.
James

[ps_bond]

Likewise on the Screwfix bits - my only minor gripe about them is the length. Centre punch, chuck them as close to the flutes as possible, run them slow and don't side load them. If you break one off in the metal, an overnight soak in pickle followed by a spell in an ultrasonic works well; alum is also very effective, but this makes for one less thing to have on hand.