Drilling for safety wire

[R1abuser]

Anyone else find the simple task of drilling a hole through a bolt or nut very very tedious ?  I have snapped about 5 drill bits so far, and got 4 bolts wired !

at 2 bucks per drill bit, this is getting to be a very expensive task !

Someone please help this rookie out with some tips for drilling.

BTW- I am using cutting oil... I assume that the problem lies with my drill bit.  What kind do you guys use ?   ???

[tzracer]

I have an old flaring tool (the part that holds the tubing - several diameters - clamp on the threads - doesn't destroy the threads) for holding bolts and use a drill press.

The key is holding the bolt and to use a drill press and don't go crazy with pressure.

[dylanfan53]

Dan,
Usually the bits are broken as you poke through the other side.  As you (patiently) feel that you are almost through you have to back way off and be gentle.  

People's preferred methods vary.  I use a regular corded or cordless drill and get a punch mark on it when I can.  Others like a drill press.   With practice, you won't break many.  The first bike I did had me running to the hardware store multiple times.  Now they only break when I get impatient or in a hurry.
I use the cheapest bits I can find. $1.37 for a 1/16 in. bit at Ace.
HTH

[R1abuser]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Since yesterday I have discovered the age old secret of COBOLT drill bits.  :o  Those drill bits absolutely rocked !

I ended up drilling atleast 30 holes this afternoon and have managed to get 90% of the bolts drilled and ready to go.

I even took the nuts that bolt the header down and drilled those as well.

[cane]

You can get a pack of 12 for 1.89 from harbor freight (www.harborfreight.com). I like to use 5/64" and sometimes 1/16".  The 5/64" last a little longer because they are bigger and a little harder to break.
Good luck!!

[1fastmofo]

Allot of the nuts and bolts are case hardened (heat treaded) so the outside of the bolt is harder than the warm chewy inside. ;) Use a dremel tool to "polish" off some of the bolt. It makes it much easier to drill.

[Eric Kelcher]

I buy bits at grainger I buy the short bits they are harder to break.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611639472&ccitem=