What kind of handheld drill do I need to drill through 20 gauge sterling silver sheet metal?
I am trying to make a pendant necklace. I am looking to spend under on a handheld drill or drill bits. Can I just use the cordless screwdriver/drill I have at home with a special bit? If so...what kind of bit?
Thank you for your help!
Tagged with: drill bits
2 comments
While I would still recommend a drill press or a flexible shaft for precision and ease of drilling, you should be able to do it with a dremel. You could test your current drill on a scrap of copper or another non ferrous metal to see if it would would work before you invest in a dremel. As for drill bits–make sure whatever you get is good for metal (all-purpose is ideal). You can get a set of tiny bits from most hobby stores for around $20, or, depending on your local hardware store (ACE is good) you can get bits down to a 59 in wire gauge sizes individually (they’re usually around a buck or two apiece). Some rough approximates of bit sizes to wire sizes:
#56–16 gauge wire
#59–18 gauge wire
#68–20 gauge wire
#77–24 gauge wire (smaller bits break easily, so be careful!)
The cordless screwdriver isn’t your best choice, since it probably doesn’t get up to speed to drill through a hole.
They make metal drill bits and at Home Depot, you can buy the size you need, without buying a complete set.
You should be able to find a cheap drill, or if the hole is pretty small, you could get a Dremel tool, you can buy bits for those for less than $50.