Best way to drill a kettle?

[Bubblehead]

I know this is a sore topic around here since most are more into preservation than modification but I am finally working on my 85 gallon UDS project.

What's the best way to get a hole started in porcelain coating without walking the drill bit all over the place?  I am thinking blue painters tape but I don't know how much traction that'll proved(or take away).

I appreciate any advice you folks may have.

Jim

[Hinds90]

Interested in this also

[duff645]

Pretape the area with a scotch tape to mark the spot. Use a smaller diameter drill bit on a drill press at a low torque setting to create s pilot hole.  Then finished it with the correct diameter bit and a step bit to get rid of the loose knurls. I did this on a Weber rotisserie ring and a CB stacker ring.

[FTTH]

I drilled a probe port in my 22, 8 years ago. Very easy process. Determine the diameter and use a step bit or start off with a couple smaller bits and work you way up to the final diameter. Use new sharp bits. Cover spot with painters tape so the bit does not drift. That’s it. I didn’t crack the porcelain.


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[Bubblehead]

Thanks guys.  I'm diving in!

[Jules V.]

I use 2 layers of  clear
shipping tape. The key here is to use a very sharp bit and drill slowly. I have drilled  many vent, bracket, burner, and  bale holes without any chipping  whatsoever.

Also once you reach the hole diameter that you need, roll up a sand paper  and wet-sand it until smooth. Use high heat paint on the exposed metal. Good luck.



JV

[Bubblehead]

I appreciate the help guys.  I got 4 very clean holes using 2X shipping tape and a new bit.  We had some up front, I'm building at work.  I debrred with a deburr tool.

[addicted-to-smoke]

I drilled a probe port in my 22, 8 years ago. Very easy process. Determine the diameter and use a step bit or start off with a couple smaller bits and work you way up to the final diameter. Use new sharp bits. Cover spot with painters tape so the bit does not drift. That’s it. I didn’t crack the porcelain.

This is exactly how I was taught to do it here, also. It works!

[bigssa]

Depending on what you are drilling and where, you may want to consider what will happen with the exposed metal. I have drilled a few holes in my WSM for mods and covered the bare metal with some high heat paint. That may not work as well on a Kettle considering the temps, but you should consider that it will cause rust in the long run.

[Bubblehead]

Good call, bigssa!  I'll be sure to apply some high temp paint to the exposed areas.

[Dsorgnzd]

When I drilled holes in my WSM I started with a small Dremel stone bit to grind through the porcelain, then switched to a drill bit once I got down to metal. This prevented cracking the porcelain and also kept the drill bit from skating.

[GoAnywhereJeep]

Back in the late 1980's I punched holes in the tops of new subarus to install the factory roof racks. Those things were beer cans. More recently, i have had to punch holes in my Jeep Wrangler's body panels and my WSM.

In case nobody has mentioned it, a good way to go is to use an automatic center punch like the Tekton 6580 on Amazon. I sill have my old BluePoint (SnapOn) and it works great. Mine is adjustable.

The other thing you want to do is to use a high quality unibit versus several regular drill bits. They drill smoother holes. The drill bits can drill bad holes and I even have a good set of cobalt bits.

Chase the holes as @Dsorgnzd suggested above. I have a similar burr in my Dremmel kit.