How to put 1/2" holes through 3/8" steel
I'm building a new gate-post out of leftover materials that are just kind of lying around my yard and I need to drill a total of 6 holes of 1/2" diameter (or slightly more) through (nominally) 3/8"-thick center webbing of some 4x4" steel H-beams.
The steel is, as far as I can tell, just plain structural steel - it's not high-grade or stainless or forged or anything fancy. EDIT: One piece is embossed "THAS," if anyone cares...
I do not have a drill press or a mag drill and I doubt my .50 Beowulf would punch a clean enough hole. I DO have a 3/8" 18v Makita drill, a small 18v Makita impact driver, a corded 1/2" DeWalt hammer drill, and a new Milwaukee 5/8" bi-metal hole saw with arbor.
So, questions:
Am I going to be OK if I go slow and heavily lubed?
Do I need to buy an annular cutter or some other, better cutter?
Can I use a hand-drill or should I haul the beams to my sister's house and use her drill press?
Thanks for the advice!
