Having issues cutting guage holes with hole saw

[Bundy]

I am using a harbor freight drill press with a 2 5/8" hole saw bit and i was able to get drill only one hole before i ran into problems.

I tried to have the dash as level as possible, but due to the shape i was only able to get close to level. both of my chucks seperated from their shafts from the bit catching in the metal. Because the chuck shaft has a beveled end, can just drive it back into the chuck with a hammer or are they broken?

What could make the cutting easier, cutting oil? i even changed the belt to the lowest cutting speed like i read and still had problems... i wasn't trying to drill too quickly or anything. maybe i screwed up the bit on the first hole from it being too uneven??:?

any ideas would be immensly appreciated- thanks!

 

[av bronco]

You can just tap it back up there, thats the way they are made.

 

[RustyShackelfor]

You really need it to be level. If it isnt level then you would be better off using a hand held drill for the hole saw.

Try to fix them if you can, but IDK if you can or not. Probably need a better drill press too. I use a really old ATLAS drill press and besides replacing the occasional worn out part it is great. For tools like that I would rather buy old and used than new and cheap.

 

[Bundy]

ok, i will try to get it as level as possible. i normally wouldn't buy a harbor freight special, but it was on craigslist for cheap

 

[ken75ranger]

Try cutting a block of wood to go behind the dash and make it level. Then clamp it all to your table on the drill press

 

[tinytim02]

Make sure you are using a hole saw made for metal, not wood.

 

[knack]

Try cutting a block of wood to go behind the dash and make it level. Then clamp it all to your table on the drill press

Some scrap wood backing it up will make a big difference - and use the slowest speed you have.

 

[TN1776]

As the others have said, make it level. Hole saws don't like surfaces that are not flat and level. The finer tooth holesaw the better too. Also, clamp it down so that it can't walk around on the press.

 

[Steve]

Bi-metallic hole saw, level and clamped to the table, slow drill speed and cutting fluid will work well.

 

[ogr]

Slow speed and oil (anything really, 3/1, motor oil, wd40) will usually solve the problem. Heat will dull the saw quickly.