Metal to Wood?

[tvgordon]

I know there are alot of people in this forum with more woodworking experience than I have so here's my question.  I made a fish board for the company my wife works for.  Basically, this is a cedar board with a stainless steel rule set into a groove in the board.  They place the fish on the board to see how long it is.  The board is going to get wet, hot, cold, dry, etc. so I need to know the best way to attach the rule to the cedar.  I would like to be able to save the rule if the cedar needs replaced.  I plan on finishing the board with three coats of spar urethane.  My best ideas were to attach it with a few dots of hot melt polyurethane glue or to try to place a few screws down the center of the rule.  Does stainless steel drill like other steels?  Any ideas???
Thanks, Tom.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Does stainless steel drill like other steels?  Any ideas???
Thanks, Tom.

Tom, no stainless doesn't drill as easily as mild steel. Stainless is harder. But the thin rule shouldn't be a problem. Use a sharp bit and I would try a metal cutting lub of some kind to reduce heat build up. The heat from drilling stainlees can discolor the metal. Again, the thin rule will drill out pretty fast, not producing too much heat. If you were drilling thicker stainless, don't stop drilling half way through the hole. When you stop the metal will cool making the metal ever harder.

 

[Eli]

Definitely drill holes and screw it down.

 

[tvgordon]

Thanks for the help!  I'll go out and get some stainless steel screws tomorrow.
Tom.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

Another trick to drilling stainless is to centerpunch the hole location first, then locate the drill bit to the punch mark with the bit not turning.  Apply downward pressure and then start the drill.

Reason:  You never want the bit to turn on stainless without actually cutting.  To do so seems to immediately work harden the stainless.

 

[tvgordon]

Wow, you guys weren't kidding!  I just had to drill and countersink 2 holes in the rule and 1 1/2 hours and a broken drill bit later I got it done.  I couldn't believe how much harder stainless steel is compared to mild steel.  It even took a while to grind just a little off the stainless steel screws so they fit flush to the rule.  Next time I think I'll order the aluminum rule!  (Woodcraft has both stainless and aluminum in their catalog but the store I visited only had the stainless in stock).  Thanks again for your tips, Tom.