Drilling Hole In Keg

[Benno-5]

I cut 8 33mm holes in stainless. I used a sutton hole saw, a drill press and lots of cutting lube. Make sure you set the press to slow! Cuts no worries this way.

 

[sluggerdog]

Just doing this now and about half way though it has stopped eating into the keg.

I guess the steel is getting to hot maybe? I forgot to use WD 40 at the start but put it on now.

Got to 16 mm on the step drill easily but no futher.

Should I just wait a while until it cools?

 

[Hubby]

Sluggerdog, I'm assuming you're using a high speed steel cutter ... two main things to consider are the cutting speed (typically slower than for mild steel) and coolant. What also may happen is that the tool is blunt and the cutting surface has "work hardened" making it difficult to cut. Work hardening may also be from insufficient pressure (ie feed rate) and the tool is rubbing/glazing the surface. Another thing to keep in mind is to hold the item as securely as possible - chatter and vibration can be a problem too. (Different speeds, pressure, coolant requirements etc apply to bi-metal and tungsten cutters.)

I know this doesn't help alot, but it may give clues to when it's not cutting as expected.

 

[sluggerdog]

Thanks Hubby, I left it for around 15 mins and got to the 20 mm mark but then it stopped again. Am waiting a while then will try for the last little bit.

yes it seems the tool is getting blunt as the coating is coming off.

Yes it is a high speed steel cutter

 

[lucas]

digging out an old thread here to ask a related question.

I picked up some cutting oil and boy does it make a difference. cut through the wall of the keg like butter, compared to the last hole i drilled where I thought i was going to burn out the drill motor.

anyway, I was wanting to make a sight gauge so I've drilled one hole down the bottom, and I attempted to drill a second hold up the top where the past owners put their names, but the drill just didnt seem to be grabbing properly, the pilot bit barely even left a mark. has anyone drilled through this top bit before? I'm thinking it must be tempered or something and I'd rather not wreck my holesaw

 

[Barramundi]

perhaps your drill is blunt i dint see that the steel there should be any harder than other areas , although haing said that if it is close to a weld heat makes stainless get harder...

 

[lucas]

i seriously doubt the pilot is blunt, it tore through the first hole like a hot knife through butter.

The location I want the hole is right where some of the embossed lettering is so perhaps that has something to do with it

 

[MVZOOM]

i seriously doubt the pilot is blunt, it tore through the first hole like a hot knife through butter.

The location I want the hole is right where some of the embossed lettering is so perhaps that has something to do with it

Yep, the material that piece is made out of, is a patented alloy blend called 'Brewery's Revenge'. Really hard to get through.

Cheers - MIke :lol:

 

[MichaelM]

I converted a keg into an HLT and needed a 38mm hole for the element to fit in. I wasn't going to spend $40 for a arbor and holesaw so i decided to improvise. The biggest step drill I had was a 25mm bit so here is what i did.

I traced the the size hole i needed, drilled 15mm holes with the the stepdrill reasonably close to the edges, allowing the holes to overlap. Once I had drilled a rough circle I took a ******* file ( rough file with a flat and curved side) and used elbow grease to file the edges smooth. It took about 20 minutes to complete this task. Turned out perfectly.