Drilling Stainless Steel

[spook100]

I bought a 10 gallon stainless steel milk urn at my local car boot sale that I want to convert into a kettle/HLT. I have found some HSS step drill bits on the internet that I am should be able to cope with the holes up to 26mm diameter, but I need to make a much bigger hole (around 64mm I think) for an immersion heater. Does anyone know of a (not too expensive) tool that will do the job or will I need to take it to a prefessional metal worker?

[Aleman]

A 64mm Qmax sheet metal punch is a much better tool for making large holes in Stainless . . . while you can use a 64mm Bosch Cobalt Hole saw, the odds are that it will blunt in short order. With a Q Max punch you only need to drill a 12 mm hole . . . and don't forget to buy the thrust race it makes life much easier with those big holes

[fractureman]

or take to any welder fabricator, my house mate is 1 & says he could do that no problem for a couple of pints

[spook100]

Thanks for the replies. I think the steel on my urn is a bit thicker than 16 gauge so I'll have to try and find a welder to do it.

[jason123]

I'd look for a small local engineering workshop and see if you could persuade one of them to do it for a £10 in the dinner hour. You'll also benefit from a nice neat job too!