Millett Front Sight Install

[Confederate]

I love Millett sights and recently bought a couple of front sights to install on two of my Ruger Security-Sixes. I clamped everything together, pulled out my 1/16th drill bit and inserted it in my power drill. The only problem is, the drill bit won't penetrate the Millett sight! I've put the drill on the fastest speed, but all it leaves is a dent. I've installed these sights years ago with no problem, but now I'm wondering if I need a special drill bit to get through the thing.

Has anyone had this experience?

Thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

Might try buying a new bit.
Maybe yours is just dull?

rc

 

[Confederate]

Nah...I went to Home Depot today and bought the hardest bit they had. It has a special head that supposedly bites into the material better and it says it's for "metal, wood and plastic." The instructions also said to use oil for lubrication.

Came home, clamped it in and again attempted to drill. It made the hole just a teeeeeeny bit deeper, but I had to go at it for quite awhile. I also called Millett (Bushnell) and one of the techies said to use a Dremel to chip away part of the tough site coating. So I did and it hasn't made a difference.

The only thing I can figure is that they overhardened the piece. It's not supposed to be that tough (I've installed them before). I have another one, but I got it at the same time and am thinking about returning them both to Millett if the second one is equally as stubborn.

But is there a chance I'm missing something? The instructions said even a hand crank drill ought to do it, so something ain't right.

 

[Confederate]

Tried second front sight with the same result. Called Millett and they said the titanium drills should do the trick and they seemed mystified that they didn't. Oddly, no one at the tech support seemed to know anything about these sights.

I'm supposed to send them in for replacement, but I wondered if I could somehow cement them into place using a chemical weld. I'd feel better if there was a stake in place, but if the new ones are no better than the ones I'm sending, I'll be back at square one.

 

[GP100man]

carbide bits turned slow & lubed has cut anything i`ve tackled!!

GP100man

 

[rino451]

"fastest speed"??? You probably hardened the spot where you were drilling because of the heat the bit generated. Easy to do. You have to use oil and go slow with a sharp bit. If you sat there with it spinning ballsout for any time other than a few seconds, you almost certainly hardened the piece in that spot.

 

[rcmodel]

Go back and buy a small lathe center bit.
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1230

It should get through the hard surface, then you can switch back to the drill bit to complete the hole.

Best to use a drill press if you have access to one!

Drilling hard stuff with a hand drill is very difficult.

Another option is to "spot" the hole and get through the hard surface with a small Dremel carbide dental bur.
http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/PROD/dremel-carbide-round/D-AM18

rc