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How do I drill a hole in a coin?


adenium

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How do I drill a hole in a coin and not ruin the coin? I purchased three commemorative coins from a shop in Emmetsburg, IA. These are basically St. Patrick's day coins of little value to anyone outside of Emmetsburg. I want to drill a hole in each, attach a Travel Bug tag and release (I know this is the Geocoin forum, but I figured this would be the area to bring up drills and all things drilly).

 

It seemed like a simple plan until I drilled a test hole on a penny. I purchased a couple of titanium drill bits and got to work on my penny. After about five minutes I had a nice smooth divit drilled into the penny, but not a hole. After another five minutes, I had a hole of sorts. The exit hole was completely mangled. My question is, how do I do it right? I want a nice clean bore hole through the coin, without burs or a bulge around the exit hole. Is that even possible, given the limitations of a simple home workshop?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jason a.k.a. Adenium

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How do I drill a hole in a coin and not ruin the coin? I purchased three commemorative coins from a shop in Emmetsburg, IA. These are basically St. Patrick's day coins of little value to anyone outside of Emmetsburg. I want to drill a hole in each, attach a Travel Bug tag and release (I know this is the Geocoin forum, but I figured this would be the area to bring up drills and all things drilly).

 

It seemed like a simple plan until I drilled a test hole on a penny. I purchased a couple of titanium drill bits and got to work on my penny. After about five minutes I had a nice smooth divit drilled into the penny, but not a hole. After another five minutes, I had a hole of sorts. The exit hole was completely mangled. My question is, how do I do it right? I want a nice clean bore hole through the coin, without burs or a bulge around the exit hole. Is that even possible, given the limitations of a simple home workshop?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jason a.k.a. Adenium

I've used a drop of oil to help keep the bit cool and always start with the smallest bit you can fit to your drill then expand to size you need. First hole shouldn't take but 10-15 seconds.

Oh, to avoid burrs on the backside - stop before drill goes all the way through, a little is okay to locate hole, and finish drilling from other side to remove burrs.

Edited by Droo
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How do I drill a hole in a coin and not ruin the coin? I purchased three commemorative coins from a shop in Emmetsburg, IA. These are basically St. Patrick's day coins of little value to anyone outside of Emmetsburg. I want to drill a hole in each, attach a Travel Bug tag and release (I know this is the Geocoin forum, but I figured this would be the area to bring up drills and all things drilly).

 

It seemed like a simple plan until I drilled a test hole on a penny. I purchased a couple of titanium drill bits and got to work on my penny. After about five minutes I had a nice smooth divit drilled into the penny, but not a hole. After another five minutes, I had a hole of sorts. The exit hole was completely mangled. My question is, how do I do it right? I want a nice clean bore hole through the coin, without burs or a bulge around the exit hole. Is that even possible, given the limitations of a simple home workshop?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jason a.k.a. Adenium

 

machine oil like Droo mentions will help. Also a penny is a soft metal so you should have chewed right through it in no time. You may be using the wrong kind of drill bit, or have the right bit but it's dull. The cheapest way to make commemerative coins would use Bronze as the base metal so they would be soft as well. Cupro-Nickel (what most Silver US coins are made out of, and what a fair chunkc of silver coins world wide are made out of) are harder but I don't know how much harder since I really haven't drilled any. Of the top of my head it shouldn't be that difficult.

 

Ignoring all that using a drill press and a method of holding your coin still will give you the best result. Plan B is a vice, and free hand. Not as clean of a hole but better than freehanding it.

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If you have no drill press then tape the coin to a board. Use masking or duct tape, not scotch tape, but check to make sure it won't leave gummy bits all over the coin. Then clamp the board down (or stand on it) and go slowly. (make the hole slowly, the drill should be spinning as fast as it can!) Starting out with a small bit and working up from there is also a good idea.

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all the advise they give is great, and will work well, but I wouldn't drill into any US coins as it is illegal

unles the government has deemed them no longer acceptable for circulation

Somehow I don't see the Feds getting worked up about a single solitary holy penny. :o:)

 

Edit to add: Of course if you shine a light and the shadow of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus comes through the other side it's a totally different story!!

Edited by Droo
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