So I got the Canadian Tire brand step drill bit today and I knew the hole I wanted was 7/8, so I thought I would drill the hole.
I did a good punch mark, but the step drill would wander, so I tried drilling a pilot hole to allow the step drill to get started. Four broken or dull bits later, I barely made a mark in the stainless steel, but it was enough for the step bit to get started.
I put oil on it, pause about three times in between steps so it did not get too hot, but I knew each time that I added the oil, the area was hot. I made it to the 7/8 step and stopped right away. I dont get the bulkhead until tomorrow and want to check to see how it fits before doing anything else.
Although the edge that I could see was a nice clean hole, I was surprised to see the inside was not a clean hole at all.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/038h...8AAJc8WsZutSMA
Not sure if I have to go a little farther with the step drill and it will clean it off, but I know I cannot put the bulkhead on with the metal shards sticking out. Not positive on how to remove them without making a mess. Also not sure how it happened other than the bit did not have a good enough cutting edge for stainless steel.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
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