Question:

What type of bit can drive a small hole into some seemingly hard metal?

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I want to drill six small holes to hold a metal shutter bracket. the windows are covered in aluminum and underneath is mostly old, soft, somewhat decayed wood. i am running into some areas that apparently were reinforced with a strong metal. i need these holes to be small and to hold screws. i tried drilling but got nowhere fast. is there a special bit or technique that I can use to make these holes?

I am not trained as a carpenter obviously and when i run into things like this, it really slows me down since I don't have the know-how. any help is appreciated.

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7 ANSWERS


  1. i gotta agree use a diamond tip  


  2. If you cannot drill the hole with carborundum bits, how are you going to thread the holes???? If the metal is that hard, don't think that any s***w will self thread the hole. Good luck, Goldwing

  3. More than likely you are hitting the simpson strong ties that hold the frame together. You do need either a self drilling sheet metal s***w, or a metal drill bit. I am familiar with the Cobalt drill bits that Ridgid puts out. Its specifically made to drill through metals.

  4.     There shouldn't be anything special about what your doing except that either your running your drill to slow or, your bit is to dull. Try using a tap drill. First use a smaller drill bit, then the one you want, make sure there new carbide steel drills and, good ones, not cheapo Wal-Mart drills.

         If you do use a self tapping s***w them use the high speed on your drill.

  5. You are hitting old screws or nails.  A diamond bit should do the job.

  6. Sharpen the drill bit. Or better yet spend $1.50 and get a new metal bit.

  7. Carbide bit.

    Use a 3/8" drill.

    Hold it steady and spray WD40 on it.

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