Drilling hole in white metal

Ralphmp

Ralphmp

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I need to drill a small hole (about 1mm) in a white metal casting. Any advice on what type of drill bit, drill speed, etc. would be welcome.

Also, I’d like to paint the casting black when I’ve put the hole in it. Again, any advice on surface prep and type(s) of paint would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Yes, as white metal is lead-free these days, you are less likely to have the problem of the drill bit fouling up. Equally, you don't need to drill at such a slow speed, as you're less likely to melt the hole. I'd be using a medium speed with a nice sharp drill ;)

Any etching primer ought to be OK on white metal.
 
I have also used candle wax, if I can avoid it I always try to avoid using a powered drill for such small holes in white metal, take it gentle and slow and regularly lift the drill bit out to clean the drill.

As for painting I don't do anything special, clean with viakal (because I use to clean everything before painting) or similar, primer and top coat with my chosen colour.
 
A pin vice is the tool of choice. The drawing pin at the back is to stop you wearing out ones palm.
image.jpg
 
I would second JonD's recommendation of a Pin Chuck/Pin Vice (same thing, different names) as in his photo. MUCH more controllable than a powered drill, and if you use a decent drillbit you should get through most grades/types of White Metal just fine.
Not all white metal is lead-free by a long way... many (most) grades still have some lead, which makes the castings much more malleable and less brittle. Lead-free grades (which are basically all tin except for a couple of % of other trace metals) and are much harder than the lead-tin alloys.

Jon.
 
Ralphmp said:
I need to drill a small hole (about 1mm) in a white metal casting. Any advice on what type of drill bit, drill speed, etc. would be welcome.

Also, I’d like to paint the casting black when I’ve put the hole in it. Again, any advice on surface prep and type(s) of paint would be appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
First white metal is a description for a lot of metal, silver, not hallmarked is described as white metal, and the casting from OcCre are white metal so much harder than what I am use to. Also when drilling thickness is part is the equation.
 
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JimmyB said:
First white metal is a description for a lot of metal, silver, not hallmarked is described as white metal, and the casting from OcCre are white metal so much harder than what I am use to. Also when drilling thickness is part is the equation.
Click to expand...

As the part in question came from a model railway shop I doubt it’s made of silver! Also, regarding your point on thickness, the part in question is about 1 cm thick so do you have any tips for drilling through this?

Thanks.
 
Ralphmp said:
As the part in question came from a model railway shop I doubt it’s made of silver! Also, regarding your point on thickness, the part in question is about 1 cm thick so do you have any tips for drilling through this?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Keep stopping to turn it upside down and tip the swarf out. If it does have a lead content, that'll easily bung the drill up.
 
Rhinochugger said:
Keep stopping to turn it upside down and tip the swarf out. If it does have a lead content, that'll easily bung the drill up.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. Past experience of trying to drill/tap holes in solid metal blocks has not been good so all advice like this is most welcome.
 
I've found an Archimedean drill perfect for this sort of application. You can use it as a pin vice, or with a gentle finger pressure, you spin the drill at a greater speed while having precise control of the pressure you are exerting. I've drilled out a number of white metal castings this way.

Modelcraft Professional Archimedean Drill, Blue, 1 : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Modelcraft Professional Archimedean Drill, Blue, 1: Modelcraft Professional Archimedean Drill, Blue, 1: Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen
www.amazon.co.uk
 
Ralphmp said:
As the part in question came from a model railway shop I doubt it’s made of silver! Also, regarding your point on thickness, the part in question is about 1 cm thick so do you have any tips for drilling through this?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Very sharp drill, drill a little and withdraw and like aluminium keep de-burring the cutting edge.
 
Oh, yes. Sorry for not posting an update. Used a suitable sized bit in my Makita cordless screwdriver and, as advised, made sure to get swarf clear every few seconds. Worked fine. (I do have a pin vice thingy but couldn’t use it on metal due to issues with my hands.)
 
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