Drill through safe wall

[rd2play]

I have a safe for my guns, nothing fancy, just something to deter the potential run of the mill burglar. It has holes in the floor, but I want to attach it to the wall studs with lag bolts and it doesn't have holes in the back, so I need to drill some.

How do I drill through the steel wall? It's a Stack On, so it's nothing crazy thick. Punch it and then go slow, using cutting fluid? I've never drilled through steel.

[L.A. Saiga]

home depot?

[SVT-40]

Just drill it. It's sheet metal. Any bit will work. No need for fluid.

[Animal.]

Drill pilot hole or punch it and use cobalt bit? Cutting fluid if necessary. Shouldnt be difficult.

[FAS1]

Just drill it. It's sheet metal. Any bit will work. No need for fluid.

[AlHO1966]

Just drill it. It's sheet metal. Any bit will work. No need for fluid.

This... no fluid with something that thin.

[AregularGuy]

As the replies said, punch or pilot then drill. I did the same thing you are planning but I bought a piece of 1/8" thick flat metal bar to reinforce the cheap metal sidewall.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-4-in-x-72-in-Plain-Flat-Bar-800267/204604764?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25H%7C25-4_BUILDERS_HARDWARE%7CNA%7CLIA|71700000044822926|58700004636006010|92700039037730264&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAjwqfDlBRBDEiwAigXUaEbe0a7_2yrF--4GXkf6NQem0ez3kfdhFXbBmPLFzvjGxiBlWBtb4hoCepoQAvD_BwE

I lined up the holes, drilled through it all, then lag bolted through the wall to a crawl space. The metal sidewalls are usually thin enough someone could fatigue it by rocking, then eventually bull the bolt heads out. That's the reason for the reinforcement.

[Newport]

Brand new drill bits from Home Depot or Lowes are your friend. Go slow and steady, lubricate with motor oil (no fancy cutting fluid needed, but nothing light like WD-40) and keep the hole wet. Dab oil on the hole with a screwdriver tip. If the oil brings to smoke, then you are pressing too hard. Smoke indicates excessive heat which prematurely dulls the cutting edge of the bit. As soon as the bit brings to dull it is worthless (unless you have a drill bit sharpener, which I highly doubt.

I've put 5/16" holes in 316 stainless plate with a light duty (plug-in, not battery) hand drill using this technique and it works just fine - just remember no smoking allowed.

[Barang]

Get a new titanium bit. It will go fast!

[H8Mud]

Ummm shoot holes in it duh!

[rd2play]

Thanks everybody! I think I'll go with 5/16" lag bolts and the flat metal bar for reinforcement (great idea).

The other thing is that I have a door with one of those closet door knobs that don't lock. I want to replace that with a locking door knob (same idea... nothing fancy, just make the burglar work while the alarm screams). The door doesn't have holes for door knobs on both sides, so I'll have to make a hole. What should I use for that large diameter? Those door knobs are pretty much a standard size, so is there a certain drill bit size that I could use?

[P5Ret]

Thanks everybody! I think I'll go with 5/16" lag bolts and the flat metal bar for reinforcement (great idea).

The other thing is that I have a door with one of those closet door knobs that don't lock. I want to replace that with a locking door knob (same idea... nothing fancy, just make the burglar work while the alarm screams). The door doesn't have holes for door knobs on both sides, so I'll have to make a hole. What should I use for that large diameter? Those door knobs are pretty much a standard size, so is there a certain drill bit size that I could use?

Get one of these, it will make the job so much easier than trying to do it without the proper tools.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Door-Lock-Installation-Bi-Metal-Hole-Saw-Set-49-22-4073/204402141

[The Gleam]

Just a additional comment; before drilling through the interior of the safe, if it has any kind of fabric liner, slice a hole in that first and peel it slightly away from where you want to drill, then put the bit's chisel edge through that before drilling.

Otherwise, you might catch the cloth up in the drill depending on the material, and wrap it up into a knot.

For the rest of it, drill away. You may also be going through some dry-wall liner in the safe too, keep that in mind; put a towel under where your drilling to catch the mess.

[MarikinaMan]

Drill pilot hole or punch it and use cobalt bit? Cutting fluid if necessary. Shouldnt be difficult.

Cobalt. Goes through metal like a hot knife through buttah. When in doubt, use oil.

[phdo]

Just drill it. It's sheet metal. Any bit will work. No need for fluid.