[Don Plumley]

Jim - piece was in a drill press vice (which is unusual for me). The bit is longish, probably the first time used, three fluted, but of marginal quality.

Because of the production (and hack) nature of what I was doing, I did not drill a pilot hole. What you said Jeff makes sense - it walks as it cuts. So Pilot Holes are the ticket.

I was fabricating pieces to help hold down channel drain covers (5" wide). For some reason, only one in 5 was installed in the drain that runs in front of my garage. I went to buy new ones from a construction supply store (Orco). Not only were they expensive (almost $5 each), but they ended up being too short. So I found some channel aluminum at the scrap yard, picked up some stainless machine bolts and nuts, cut the channel to length, drilled a hole in the middle. Then the nut barely fits in the channel, and is held in place with a little JB Weld. Tah Dah!

Thanks!