2-8-2 - THE BUILD

[P5se Camelback]

Gus! Try a drop of oil on the tip of the drill. If this works frequently oil the drill tip. And avoid to drill with high speeds. Thus can melt the zamac, depending on its alloy and the melted zamac will clog the channels of the drill. A drill with clogged channels won't drill, it just turns "in his own juice". Also frequently clean the channels. Yes in those day zinc alloy was really zinc alloy, hard, durable and heavy. Today it is an aluminium alloy with some zinc in it. The reason of the "lightweight" of todays locos. Lutz

Lutz has given very sound advice.

I would add one more thing ... an obvious thing, but something many do not think about ...

... make sure the drill bit is sharp!

I never considered that detail myself until I couldn't drill through a piece of sheet metal
while fabing up new floor boards for my "Pocket Rocket Project Car" and realized that
the drill bit was dull! So I purchased a "Drill Doctor" and now each of my drill bits
have enjoyed a sharpening session and are now all very sharp.