PCB drilling lubricant

[icecycle66]

I drilled a bunch of homemade 3PDT boards today.
I had to spray WD40 on my bit after every couple of holes.
Otherwise little red embers of fiberglass board would pop up.

What do you guys use to keep heat low on the drill bit when you are drilling a lot of boards one after the other?

[jkokura]

WD40 isn't actually a lubricant like you think it is. It's actually removes lubricant, and rust, and other things. It's great if you've got to loosen something stuck, but not so good if you're drilling.

I recommend some plain old, regular, vegetable oil. Or baring that, any other common lubricant, like a silicon or oil based type for drilling. You can find them in hardware stores.

Jacob

[rullywowr]

Usually I just use a .8mm carbide bit and go for it. It holds up well as long as you don't hit it sideways. Highest speed the dremel press will  go.   I would be afraid that wd40 may contaminate the soldering pads area.

[davent]

A carbide bit will cut through with ease nothing needed. HSS bits need regular replacing to cut and not burn.

I was cutting/enlarging the holes in half a dozen stainless steel washers earlier tonight and Mineral Spirits on the step bit seeemd to do the cooling/lubricating job well there. As soon as the hole was drilled i could grab onto them with only slight discomfort to flip them around in the vice to chamfer the other side.

[wgc]

Keep in mind that lubricants, etc will sometimes lead to a less satisfying soldering experience.

You might want to try lower rpms?

A carbide bit works great too.

[Vallhagen]

silicon

I would avoid any silicon solution close to electric leads. It maybe isnt THAT important in this context, but when it comes to e.g. RF-shielded joints silicon is a big nono. I guess your first hint, veg oil, is better, easier to wash off. If it was me, i would lower the drill speed as a first try.

Cheers.

[Darkknigh_t]

what kind of drill bits are you using cause if they are cheap they get dull quick and then instead of drilling they burn cause of the friction.

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[icecycle66]

what kind of drill bits are you using cause if they are cheap they get dull quick and then instead of drilling they burn cause of the friction.

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Just the dremel junk from Lowes.

[Darkknigh_t]

what kind of drill bits are you using cause if they are cheap they get dull quick and then instead of drilling they burn cause of the friction.

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Just the dremel junk from Lowes.

I use normal drill bits cheap ones and use a small modeling drill and when i drill the pcb it takes about 200 holes to make it dull. If your drilling alot i would invest in better drill bits cause the sharper they are they will drill with no burning. If the bit gets hot and it will just take a couple of second brakes and itl be fine.

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[davent]

Hi Angelo, guessing you're in the states, great source for carbide bits here. I drill all holes with a #71 which covers pretty much everything in the pedal domain (tightly) resistors, caps, ic sockets, transisitors and small diodes etc. i'll go with #70's next time. For fat diode leads and 22awg wire pads i just redrill those few holes with a #65. If you're not in the states shipping was killer under the old pricing structure, hate to see what it is now.

http://drillcity.stores.yahoo.net/newtuncardri.html

The difference between carbide and HSS is quite shocking as is the fragility so extra care is needed although i've always found the stubs still drill fine, tendency to skate a bit before entering, but once in... butter.

dave

[wgc]

Hopefully it's an adjustable speed dremel.  I think they spin a lot faster than a drill.  If you really like the dremel, see if you can buy some dental drill bits.  Yep, for teeth.