counter sinks

[Joe S.]

cordless drill is terrible for trying to get a decent counter sink for screws.End up using small files to dress up the hole.Any tips short of buying a drill press.Cordless is pretty old and just seem to bounce abit making the sink almost eggshaped.

[kaintuck]

get a countersink with more flutes on it...LOWES and home depot sell ones with 7 flutes I believe.
then, slower speed, heck, you can do brass by hand with a new sharpe one!

marc n tomtom

[Mark Elliott]

I use a cordless drill for opening up counter sunk holes a bit more.   I usually start them on the drill press.   However,  I also use a hand countersink, and I have a two flute countersink for a brace.   They all work.   Moat of my countersinks are seven flutes.   I have three different angles.  Most where purchased from MSC.   I think the key to a clean cutting countersink is to go slow.   I think we all run drill bits (and countersinks) too fast.   The bigger the cutter, the slower you should run it.   Lubricant almost always helps if you have any trouble.

[flehto]

Most ctsks used in a hole shooter will chatter because the speed is too fast and the ctsk isn't held securely enough.

I've used a 5 fluted ctsk that chattered and then went to a seven flute and cleaned up the chatter. A single fluted ctsk is the best bet w/ a hole shooter or placing a piece of shop rag under the many fluted ctsks.....Fred

[bob in the woods]

I use a brace  or else my " egg beater " hand powered drill  with  either a single flute or a seven flute CS   .  My switch over to hand tools in place of power tools has brought a marked reduction in time spent fixing mistakes. Usually, if something is heading in the wrong direction, You can see it before irrevocable damage is done 

[Joe S.]

thanks guys,figured one with more flutes would be the cure.Mine have two,do have a five need to look around for it.

[Randall Steffy]

I wouldn't say more flutes are necessarily the solution to chatter. Weldon type countersinks get my vote for best results in most any circumstance. Get you some.

[chubby]

A single cutting edge is the best for me. I use them in my shop, and used them in the machine shop over 30yrs!! on both hard n soft metals.  Chubby

[Joe S.]

Sure remember it's a cordless drill and not  drill press

[Joe S.]

I will try all the above,high,low speed and see what gives the best results on some scrap metal of similar hardness.

[JCKelly]

Holy J----, M--- and J------ !

There is a truly Ancient invention called a "Brace" It is like a hand powered (operative term - hand powered -crank.

Why in the name of all sanity do you use electric motors when you could control your countersink so easily by hand?

I have an old countersink and a WWII surplus brace. Didn't know I was supposed to use an electric machine. This ancient way of doing things works just fine.

Spend a lot less time fixing errors made by some powered machine.

Yes, I am indeed a cranky old geezer who does not understand why it takes a CNC milling machine to make a @!*% flintlock rifle.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

The single edge countersink cuts cleanest for me.  If I use a multiple flute cutter, I cover the spot with a cleaning patch to plug the flutes.  Then as the cloth wears and the edge of the cutter is engaging the steel/brass, etc., you get a clean cut.  But you cannot spin it fast or it'll bounce and chatter.

[Dennis Glazener]

As long at the point as the drill point is not too large I use a center drill in my variable speed cordless. Turn it slow, works fine.

Taylor, I will have to try a patch, I have tried paper like some said and my multi-flute counter still tends to chatter. It seems to do better if I turn the drill press off before engaging the counter sink.

Dennis

[crankshaft]

Holy J----, M--- and J------ !

There is a truly Ancient invention called a "Brace" It is like a hand powered (operative term - hand powered -crank.

Why in the name of all sanity do you use electric motors when you could control your countersink so easily by hand?

I have an old countersink and a WWII surplus brace. Didn't know I was supposed to use an electric machine. This ancient way of doing things works just fine.

Spend a lot less time fixing errors made by some powered machine.

Yes, I am indeed a cranky old geezer who does not understand why it takes a CNC milling machine to make a @!*% flintlock rifle.

 .
.
.
 I have a good brace and use it.  But I am not  suicidal after using  an electric tool.  And, I like my Dremel.

[Daryl]

Oh yeah - Dremels FOREVER!

[frogwalking]

I use a single flute in a Chinese drill press on low speed.  I have bad no trouble with it.  I try to remember the cutting oil, but sometimes don't, but still get a clean cut on brass and mild steel.  I am a hobby builder so perhaps it works due to my ignorance.

[Joe S.]

Holy J----, M--- and J------ !

There is a truly Ancient invention called a "Brace" It is like a hand powered (operative term - hand powered -crank.

Why in the name of all sanity do you use electric motors when you could control your countersink so easily by hand?

I have an old countersink and a WWII surplus brace. Didn't know I was supposed to use an electric machine. This ancient way of doing things works just fine.

Spend a lot less time fixing errors made by some powered machine.

Yes, I am indeed a cranky old geezer who does not understand why it takes a CNC milling machine to make a @!*% flintlock rifle.

I just thru it out there for other opinions.I cleaned up the counter sink just fine with a small file(yes a hand tool)Figured there's better ways of doing it and if somebody else learns something from my issue it's a good thing.

[Acer Saccharum]

With a single flute and hand brace, you can take metal off just one side of a hole. 👹

Place cutting edge where you want to start cutting, press down with the brace, make a 1/2 turn. Back up and do it again.

J......M.....J........

[Joe S.]

J.....M.......J,hand brace,single flute,slightly egg shaped counter sink,little off the top,little off the bottom,round hole.Brilliant!Sometimes I really don't think things out

[JCKelly]

Yes, I like my Dremel too. Especially with used dental drills, good for routing out the pan of a miniature flintlock

Other countersink info helpful, thanks

[Nordnecker]

I have better results with a single flute countersink, too. But, I also have a set of tapered drills, countersinks and plug cutters by Fuller (USA) . I forget where I bought 'em. These are made to fit the taper and countersink angles of wood screws from #4 thru #12. The countersink can be set anywhere along the length of the drill for any length screw. So the screw hole will be perfectly centered and the right length and taper every time. So, I often just get a starter hole in the metal for the size screw I'm using. Then, countersink and drill the screw hole at the same time.
This is a quality set of tools.

[P.W.Berkuta]

cordless drill is terrible for trying to get a decent counter sink for screws.End up using small files to dress up the hole.Any tips short of buying a drill press.Cordless is pretty old and just seem to bounce abit making the sink almost eggshaped.

Whatever style of C-sink you use the key is turn it SLOW - I use my drill press at about 230 RPMs (as slow as it goes) and if a bit more is needed I use my antique "eggbeater" to finish it off. A variable speed hand electric drill should work also again SLOW is the key.

[T*O*F]

This is a quality set of tools.

They must be!!  I have a 4 piece set for #s 6, 8. 10, and 12 wood screws.  However, the countersinks won't cut metal, only wood.

Also, we have dual, stainless counter sinks.  One side has a garbage disposal on it and the other side is just a drain.   

[Scota4570]

I make countersinks as needed out of drill rod.  Crude ugly things, nothing fancy.  They have a pilot that fits the pre-drilled hole, this helps a bunch.  I apply flutes by eye using a Dremil tool.  I normally do two or three flutes.  It does not seem to matter.  I harden them then draw to a straw color.  I then touch up the edge by dremil or cheapo diamond needle files.  I then run them slow with oil. 

If you run a drill bit or counter sink that has no pilot,  in a preexisting hole,   it probably will chatter, especially of you spin it too fast. 

[Bob Roller]

I make countersinks as needed out of drill rod.  Crude ugly things, nothing fancy.  They have a pilot that fits the pre-drilled hole, this helps a bunch.  I apply flutes by eye using a Dremil tool.  I normally do two or three flutes.  It does not seem to matter.  I harden them then draw to a straw color.  I then touch up the edge by dremil or cheapo diamond needle files.  I then run them slow with oil. 

If you run a drill bit or counter sink that has no pilot,  in a preexisting hole,   it probably will chatter, especially of you spin it too fast. 

I have found that with home made cutters like a countersink that the irregularity if the cutting
edges is a help,not a hinderance.. I make my own rotary files when needed and as long as all the
cutting edges are pointed in the same direction the tools will work fine.

Bob Roller