Things You'll Need:
- drill press
- drill bits
- nonferrous metal (such as gold, silver, brass or copper)
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Step 1
Mark the metal before drilling.Before begin to drill using a drill press, you will need to mark the metal. You can use a scribe, punch or automatic center punch to create this registration mark. Marking the metal prior to drilling ensures that there is no slippage – a safety, as well as an aesthetic, concern.
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Step 2
Select a bit.Select the drill bit you need. The drill bit should correlate to the size hole required for the project. Bits designed especially for jewelry come in sizes ranging from 61 to 80.
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Step 3
Dip the drill bit into burr life, gem lube, wax or a similar lubricant to protect the bit before drilling.
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Step 4
Insert the drill bit you selected and coated into the chuck and secure the bit in the drill press.
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Step 5
Drill press with board.Place the metal on top of a wooden block that covers the drill table. Turn on the drill press. Secure the metal to be drilled so that it does not move during the drilling process. The metal can be secured by holding it firmly or by using a clamp. Lower the bit until it drills through the metal.
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Step 6
To create larger holes, replace the bit with a larger size and drill again. Repeat until the hole is a useful size for your project.
