This item will be delivered directly by our supplier. Lead times are shown on the product and trolley pages and are always advertised in working days (Monday to Friday).

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For most do-it-yourselfers, there will likely come a time when you'll have to drill a hole through a piece of metal. The tools and methods used to do it are almost as varied as the different types of metals out there. Here are 12 tips to make the task fast, easy and safe.

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Most of our suppliers can deliver to any UK address. Delivery to remote or offshore postcodes may take a little longer than the advertised lead time. If the supplier cannot deliver to your postcode or we believe your order may take longer, we will try to tell you beforehand.

Once you have placed your order online, we’ll have it ready for you at the store you have selected in as little as 5 minutes. We will hold your order for 14 days, after which we will automatically generate a refund to the payment type you used to place the order.

If an item is eligible for Next Business Day Collection in store, the order must be placed by 9pm Monday to Thursday for collection the next day. Orders placed after 9pm on Thursday, and up to 5pm on Sunday, will be available for collection on Monday. For larger items over 30kg, please allow two business days.

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For large holes, a hole saw gets the job done cleanly and quickly. Like twist bits, hole saws chuck right into your drill and will cut through thin-gauge sheet metals like aluminum and steel. Use a scrap of plywood as a backer for the hole saw's pilot bit and to protect your work surface.

While it's fairly easy to drill most holes in metal using nothing more than a handheld drill, you'll almost always get greater accuracy and better results using a drill press. Most drill presses are actually built with metalworking in mind. Pulling down on the handle causes the bit to plunge straight down into a workpiece and make a very precise hole.

Sunday delivery – £10.00 or £5.00 for orders over £25 & FREE for orders over £75 (order by 4pm Saturday) Times may vary for items being delivered directly from the supplier. For more information, please visit our delivery information page below.

Items that come direct from a supplier will be delivered by the courier chosen by the supplier. Where possible, suppliers will update you with delivery information. This may be by email, phone call or text message.

Drill presses also come with beefy cast-iron tables with tilt and height adjustments, and allow a variety of clamping options. Speed changes are as easy as opening the lid and moving a rubber belt from one pulley to another. The most expensive drill presses are floor-standing models, but you can buy a decent benchtop unit for about $100.

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After drilling a hole in metal, it's a good idea to remove any sharp edges or burrs left behind. You can buy fancy deburring tools to smooth sharp edges, but before spending money on one, try this trick: Take a twist bit slightly larger in diameter than the hole you just drilled, and gently hand-twist it over the top of the hole. This will smooth out the edge of the hole and grind away any burrs.

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For drilling holes in steel that's 1/8 in. or thicker, use cutting fluid or a multipurpose oil like 3-IN-ONE. Lubricating the bit reduces friction and heat buildup, which makes drilling easier and your bits last longer. For easier-to-drill metals like aluminum, brass or cast iron, lubrication isn't usually necessary.

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Items delivered direct from suppliers cannot be returned through a store. You would need to return these items direct to the supplier, unused and in their original packaging, at your expense. You can arrange for the items to be collected, for a fixed fee of £9, by contacting our Customer Services team. The fee will be taken off your refund. There is no charge for faulty items being collected.

Our standard opening times are 7am-8pm Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm Saturday and 9-4pm Sunday. Please check your local store is open on the store locator page, before you visit.

If your order contains items stocked by us and items that come direct from the supplier, your order will be automatically split and processed accordingly.

Items over 30kg can only be delivered from Monday to Friday. If ordered before 6pm, please allow up to two business days for delivery. Orders placed after 6pm Thursday will be delivered after the weekend.