I am attempting to drill a 0.3mm hole 1mm deep into a piece of stainless steel with my Taig lathe.
My current method is this:
1 - Face the surface flat and square
2 - Hold a lathe bit in my hand and "feel" out the centre, when the bit does not wobble then I push it in to make a centre divot.
3 - Put the 0.3mm HSS drill bit in a pin vice and hold it in my fingers.
4 - Peck drill by hand with loose fingers so if the bit sticks it will spin and not break.
This is what I have read that jewelers do but it is totally not working for me! My HSS drill bit does not even bite the stainless. I can not get a single chip started and have no idea what to try next.
Is a HSS drill bit even the right style of bit or should I be using a diamond coated one or something?
Any ideas?
My current method is this:
1 - Face the surface flat and square
2 - Hold a lathe bit in my hand and "feel" out the centre, when the bit does not wobble then I push it in to make a centre divot.
3 - Put the 0.3mm HSS drill bit in a pin vice and hold it in my fingers.
4 - Peck drill by hand with loose fingers so if the bit sticks it will spin and not break.
This is what I have read that jewelers do but it is totally not working for me! My HSS drill bit does not even bite the stainless. I can not get a single chip started and have no idea what to try next.
Is a HSS drill bit even the right style of bit or should I be using a diamond coated one or something?
Any ideas?