So how did they work?
Sounds like I always approached SS wrong. If making a small hole I start with a 1/8 drill & work up in 1/8ths until I'm at size & cooling with water. I never could drop the stuff in one pass or with using oil. If it is a big hole I'll use a hole saw & cut really slow flooding it with water. Speed is what always killed me. Once work hardened I always over cut the hole or burnt it & then figured out what to do with the extra hole. I never tried to tap any.
Sounds like I always approached SS wrong. If making a small hole I start with a 1/8 drill & work up in 1/8ths until I'm at size & cooling with water. I never could drop the stuff in one pass or with using oil. If it is a big hole I'll use a hole saw & cut really slow flooding it with water. Speed is what always killed me. Once work hardened I always over cut the hole or burnt it & then figured out what to do with the extra hole. I never tried to tap any.