What speed should your drill be set at to drill a hole in metal?

Drill at a Slow Speed Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. With a small twist bit (1/16 in. to 3/16 in.), you can drill through most metals at 3,000 rpm. For larger twist bits (11/16 in. to 1 in.), 350 to 1,000 rpm is recommended.

Do you drill Aluminum slow or fast?

As a rule of thumb, aluminum and other soft materials usually work well with higher speeds, but as the drill bits get larger you may need to slow the drills rpms. Steel is harder and takes slower rpms, and even slower rpms as the drill bit size increases. Stainless steel usually takes a slow rpm but more feed pressure.

Can a regular drill bit drill through aluminum?

“Aluminum is a generally soft, nonferrous, ductile material with low density and naturally high resistance to corrosion. Aluminum is difficult to drill because its ductility and softness causes the material to make constant prolonged contact with the rake face, or cutting edges, of a drill.”

How do you drill through thick aluminum?

With thick aluminum, I usually start with an 1/8″ pilot hole, take that to 1/4″, then 3/8″, then 1/2″. With an inch to go through, you may also need to use a 5/16″ bit to ensure a nice round hole at the end. When you ask a drill to cut too much metal at a time it will bend, wiggle and give you a poorly shaped hole.

What speed should you drill wood?

The best speed for drilling wood depends on the diameter of the bit and the material drilled. Larger diameter bits require a slower speed, as do hardwoods. Drilling into softwood with a twist drill bit up to 3/8″ in diameter requires a speed of 3000 RPM, while the same bit with hardwood requires 1500 RPM.

Does drill speed matter?

Generally, the higher speed and lower torque range is used for smaller diameter drilling tasks, and the lower speed and higher torque range for larger bits and tougher tasks. The lower speed range is also usually better for driving and fastening tasks.