How do I drill bed-frames?

[usmcpop]

Only real success I've had when step drilling, is when I make the first hole just about the size of the "dead" zone on the finish size bit. Take out too much of the material, and like you say...………...it'll kill your bits, and make life a bit complicated. Anything over about 1/2" gets an annular cutter (if feasible). Less runout, and better finish IMHO. Although...……..the quill on my little baby mill isn't all that tight, so I will get a bit of wobble, even with an annular.

You got it, Sam. The "dead zone" on a conventional twist drill is a very negative angle. As you proceed outward, the lip angle gets more and more acute (positive rake angle). So if you drill a small pilot the size of the web of the larger drill, less force is required but you still the whole width of the lip to prevent excessive hogging-in. If you have to enlarge a hole just a small amount, you can "dub" the lips near the outer portion of the drill to reduce the cutting angle a bit. This is often done for soft materials like brass and copper.

[birdshot]

Get some of those stepped bits from Harbor Freight. Bit has a Christmas tree shape. The bits come in good, better, and best. For metal less than 1/4 inch they work great.
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-piec...lls-91616.html

[~0le]

Burn any needed holes in the bed frame with your oxyacetylene outfit.
Or cut the hole in the bed frame with your plasma cutter.
~0le

[Joe from NY]

Burn any needed holes in the bed frame with your oxyacetylene outfit.
Or cut the hole in the bed frame with your plasma cutter.
~0le

I use bed frames for alot of projects around the house and yard. Fish tank stands, basement window bars, supports for my ammo can console for my Jeep Wrangler, frame for my DIY sandblaster, relocating my lawnmower wheels when i cut the front off my deck to make poor man's brush hog to cut down tall weeds, beefing up the front lip pf my rusty wheelbarrow, etc...

When necessary, I used to pop a quick hole in the frames with my Hypertherm PowerMax30 plasma cutter to get the drill started. it was a real pain otherwise on the drill press.

[MAC702]

I try not to use bed frame anymore. Just not worth the savings. But I will grab the plasma cutter for every hole!

Do NOT try to to it with those Harbor Freight step bits. Unless you just want to have some fun before throwing the bit away.

[Sberry]

I absolutely don't use it either.

[Sberry]

I throw it out, dont stock it or try not to let it get mixed in with other steel. Its just a problem and next thing a guy wants to drill a hole for a fix or add and it doesnt work and only thing it does is ruin a bit.