HOW TO DRILL STAINLESS STEEL - IMPORTANT, USEFUL

Stainless steel WORK HARDENS. That means, in simple terms, that it gets harder when put under stress. Drilling is stressful. SO DRILLING STAINLESS CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, OR IT CAN BE A PIECE OF CAKE. If you want it to be impossible use high RPMs, no cutting fluid, and inconsistent pressure. If you want it to be a piece of cake use a drill press that you can apply STEADY MILD PRESSURE AT LOW RPMS. IF YOU LET UP ON THE PRESSURE THE STAINLESS WILL IMMEDIATELY WORK HARDEN AND YOU DRILL WILL BE WORTHLESS. If you hear the "grinding noise" work hardening has occurred . To me it is an art. Sometimes I can do it with a hand held drill, maybe 50% OF THE TIME, but if I have a lot of holes to drill I NEED A LOT OF BITS. But with a drill press I have a high probability of success - because it is easier to exert unform downward pressure with a drill press, and it can be set to lower rpms (revolutions per minute, or drill speed). In this 304 stainless I drilled each successive diameter with one drill - ie I did a 1/4 inch pilot hole, then went straight to 1/2 for bottom and top, and 3/8 for rest. Originally the bottom was a 3/8 bronze bolt with the ground connected to it grounded in the bilge, which is asking for trouble electrolytically, but that is a topic for another day. I drilled it for a 1/2 inch stainless because that is the size that was available.
Regardless of how you drill anything, make sure it is clamped so it won't start spinning and slice your wrist or cut your guts out.
The bit laying diagonally onto the vise is called a "split point bit" which has a small groove right at the tip so that it starts drilling immediately when engaged, which helps avoid the initial work hardening. Not critical, but helpful.