drilling 8 ga aluminum kettle

[Phil]

i want to install a ball valve in my aluminum boil kettle, it's 8 gauge. probably going with 1/4" or 3/8" NPT nipple.

i don't have access to a drill press, so has anybody done this with a hand drill? what particular type of drill bit did you use?

i don't want to get a drill bit and start trying to make a hole and find it's not feasible and just wind up fucking up my kettle

[JasonHorlacher]

Aluminum is easy to drill. the stainless steel is the hard stuff. I used a hand drill and a step bit. I just stopped every couple seconds to trial fit the valve. Make it tight. (We all like it tight...most of us like it tight.)

[Mylo]

+1 on the step bit.


Mylo

[Brandt]

Step bit. piece of cake.

[Phil]

Booya. thanks crew

[JasonHorlacher]

Booya. thanks crew

Yes, Booya indeed.

[Kbar]

You can prevent drill walk by clamping down a block of spare metal that will guide the drill. Pass drill through metal (non interfernce fit) into curved pot side. FYI.