How to Drill Into Steel Plate

Steel can be found in all sorts of different automobiles, from the sheet metal on the outside of the car to the thick frame rails that support the engine. Drilling into the thicker stuff--the steel plate that most frames are made of--can be a bit tricky if you've never done it before; the drill bit tends to wander, and you don't always get a perfect hole. If you know the right tricks, though, you can drill holes without any problem.

Instructions

1

Measure where you want the hole on the steel plate using the tape measure and then mark the spot using a permanent marker. Place the metal center punch in the middle of the mark you made and push down hard until you hear a popping sound. Lift up the punch and you'll see a dimple in the middle of the steel. This will allow you to drill without having the bit wander.

2

Insert a drop of drill bit lubricant onto the mark from the punch, then install a small diameter drill bit into the drill. Place the drill bit tip onto the mark, then slowly start to drill the hole. As the drill spins, the fluid will cool down the bit, but if you see smoke, apply more lubricant. This will help your bits last longer.

3

Repeat step 2 with progressively larger bits until you reach the diameter hole that you need.