hole pattern for DIY false bottom

inspired by this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cut-keg-top-false-bottom-192413/index11.html

I'm in the process of building my own false bottom. My trouble here... i'm trying to find a pattern of holes on the internet, or a configurable printable PDF document that I can iron on to the metal from my laser printer with the holes 3/32" drilled on 5/32 centers.

My searches come up with mostly sewing patterns and templates, so i'm at a bit of a loss. I'm not much of a CAD/Sketchup/Autodesk type person, but I know making a piece of perforated sheet metal with those dimensions would be quick work for someone that is.

does anyone have suggestions on where to get a printable paper of holes for this?

Try this one:

http://www.mcnichols.com/images/mediabin/products/full/1733533241.gif

I think you would go insane trying to drill this by hand - is that your plan?

why not just use pencil to draw a 5/32" grid on the material, then drill?

I do agree with the other comment about drilling that many holes!

I used a water jet. Easy peasy! My only problem was how are you all able to dome it out without it creasing?

Put some feet on it instead?

Having made my own false bottom from a keggle lid as well, I can confirm that it will work just fine if you drill a crapload of holes and cut a few slits with a cutoff wheel. Unless you just have to have it "perfectly" symmetrical".

Also, I broke quite a few drill bits trying to start my holes on the curved surface of the lid. Good luck!

Like this?

18"x24" paper size for full scale printing

View attachment FB Hole plan.pdf

I vote for hitting it with an angle grinder instead. 5 min of cutting vs 5 hours of drilling.

I like the keggle lid idea. I just happen to cut off a lid yesterday. It looks like it would work great!.

Side note... I am making a boil pot out of a keg and I am using the piece I cut from the top as a lid. I still have ti cut and wed a lip. I usef the ball lock on the top to act as a handle to keep the keg feel to it. Its all welded. Next step is to polish it all.

Thanks for all the input guys. Will try to address questions here:

Drilling by hand... yes and no. I've got a drill press, and don't mind putting in a little time. The angle grinder idea I had considered, but I just don't like the way it looks in the end. I'm also skeptical of the pieces left behind from the cutting disk, and i'm not too fond of the size of slits it makes either. With drilling holes on the same dimensions that other false bottoms use, i'm getting a more uniform drainage. It's not to say that using a cutting disk in an angle grinder is bad, it's just not my preferred method.

Pencil and a straight edge don't really work very well on a domed surface. a printed pattern ironed on (like they do with printed circuit boards and etching) would give me more of a uniform look I think.

michaeltrego and wpstrassburg, those are definitely what i'm looking for. the gif works, and so does the pdf. I ended up having an engineer friend of mine do a repeating pattern into a PDF file for me to print, which works nicely. i'll post pictures when I start the drilling process to show the brewporn. attaching the PDF here in case any of you guys want to look into it. this one uses the hexagonal pattern rather than square pattern, so the hole density is slightly higher. they're 3/32 holes on 5/32 centers.

View attachment false_bottom_holes.pdf