Drilling hole in mason jar lid

[Tobor_8thMan]

I want to drill a hole in the mason jar lid (I'm writing about the round flat part that goes on top of the mason jar) for a grommet. I know the hole is 1/2".

Best to drill the hole from the top? Or, best to drill the hole from the bottom?

I ask as I don't want to ruin (other than drilling a hole) the white/cream colored seal on the bottom of the lid.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Robert65]

I've done it. It's not easy, as the material is pretty flimsy. My best advice is, use a Forstner bit, and go very, very slowly, with a piece of wood underneath. Chances are you'll tear a little bit at the very end, but the lids are cheap so you can afford to mess a couple up. Not sure it makes a difference which side you go from.

Ultimately I think you have a better option: don't use the metal lids, use the plastic storage lids. Way easier to drill, and being a little thicker a grommet will fit more snugly. You can get them with a silicone gasket for a tight seal:

Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jar Lids... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVPPGRF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[mongoose33]

I've also tried to drill the mason jar lids, and not easy.

The best way to drill them is to clamp a piece of wood on each side (small-diameter pieces) and drill through that so you don't tend to tear the lid.

Or plastic ones, as @Robert65 notes above.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I've done it. It's not easy, as the material is pretty flimsy. My best advice is, use a Forstner bit, and go very, very slowly, with a piece of wood underneath. Chances are you'll tear a little bit at the very end, but the lids are cheap so you can afford to mess a couple up. Not sure it makes a difference which side you go from.

Ultimately I think you have a better option: don't use the metal lids, use the plastic storage lids. Way easier to drill, and being a little thicker a grommet will fit more snugly. You can get them with a silicone gasket for a tight seal:

Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jar Lids... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVPPGRF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Interesting idea...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I've also tried to drill the mason jar lids, and not easy.

The best way to drill them is to clamp a piece of wood on each side (small-diameter pieces) and drill through that so you don't tend to tear the lid.

Or plastic ones, as @Robert65 notes above.

Scrap piece of wood is always a good idea on the out side of any drilling. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[RM-MN]

A machinist's trick for drilling sheet metal is to put a piece of rag on top of where you want to drill. It keeps the drill bit from grabbing when it breaks through. Use a small piece of rag as you don't want it whipping around as you drill.

 

[Soulshine2]

I want to drill a hole in the mason jar lid (I'm writing about the round flat part that goes on top of the mason jar) for a grommet. I know the hole is 1/2".

Best to drill the hole from the top? Or, best to drill the hole from the bottom?

I ask as I don't want to ruin (other than drilling a hole) the white/cream colored seal on the bottom of the lid.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

step drill, put masking tape over the white seal part ...actually now that I think about it , these mason jar lids with a hole already exist...try Hobby Lobby ,Farm and Fleet ,or walmart. they sell one that will accept a straw.

 

[Soulshine2]

A machinist's trick for drilling sheet metal is to put a piece of rag on top of where you want to drill. It keeps the drill bit from grabbing when it breaks through. Use a small piece of rag as you don't want it whipping around as you drill.

wrong, this is exactly why you keep loose clothing away from a spinning power tool . good way to get hurt. a piece of wood under the work piece is way better and safer.

 

[Soulshine2]

I've also tried to drill the mason jar lids, and not easy.

The best way to drill them is to clamp a piece of wood on each side (small-diameter pieces) and drill through that so you don't tend to tear the lid.

Or plastic ones, as @Robert65 notes above.

PERFECT !!

 

[RM-MN]

wrong, this is exactly why you keep loose clothing away from a spinning power tool . good way to get hurt. a piece of wood under the work piece is way better and safer.

Check out this video. This does work, I've tried it myself because I didn't believe it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Machinists...achinist_trick_for_drilling_perfect_holes_in/

 

[YostsBrewery]

Step bit with sacrificial wood below it. Clamp lid with C clamps or squeeze clamps

 

[YostsBrewery]

Bought plastic lids with seals. Worked better

 

[MaxStout]

Dremel tool with a conical grinding bit.

 

[mongoose33]

Bought plastic lids with seals. Worked betterView attachment 637554

Funny that you posted this. This morning I ordered from Amazon some plastic lids with seals. I have some other uses for them as well, but for this purpose, i.e., airlock jars, they should be perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T1G5JDZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[mongoose33]

Check out this video. This does work, I've tried it myself because I didn't believe it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Machinists...achinist_trick_for_drilling_perfect_holes_in/

I wonder how that would work with the thin canning lids. I'm sure you'd need a wood backer on them at least.

 

[MaxStout]

Bought plastic lids with seals. Worked betterView attachment 637554

I might build one of those. I already have a CO2 Harvester, would like to have a 2nd, but too cheap to plunk down another fifty. Where did you get the 90 degree barb fittings?

 

[Soulshine2]

Step bit with sacrificial wood below it. Clamp lid with C clamps or squeeze clamps

thank you. yes, that it what I would do too.

 

[Soulshine2]

Check out this video. This does work, I've tried it myself because I didn't believe it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Machinists...achinist_trick_for_drilling_perfect_holes_in/

three things-
first , that material is about 5 times thicker than a mason jar lid.
second, the same old machinist he learned that from failed to teach him to NEVER remove the spiral cuttings with his bare hands. Great way to have a visit to the ER for stitching your hand up, those things are sharp like scalpels. Use a pair of needle nose pliers for that.
third, he went from what looked like 1/8 inch to a 3/8 ...should have put a 1/4 inch step in there...which is why...

I stand by the step drill with a wooden backer (or wood-metal-wood sandwich) method, so it can be clamped securely and a clean hole drilled. The wood gives thin sheet metal support so as not to warp or collapse under both the twisting and downward force of the drill press.

 

[mongoose33]

Funny that you posted this. This morning I ordered from Amazon some plastic lids with seals. I have some other uses for them as well, but for this purpose, i.e., airlock jars, they should be perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T1G5JDZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The lids arrived. These things appear to be the answer. Silicone seals, they drill easily (I used a step bit, I'm sure a regular bit with wood backer would work fine), and the rubber grommet works into the hole just fine.

 

[beermanpete]

three things-
first , that material is about 5 times thicker than a mason jar lid.
second, the same old machinist he learned that from failed to teach him to NEVER remove the spiral cuttings with his bare hands. Great way to have a visit to the ER for stitching your hand up, those things are sharp like scalpels. Use a pair of needle nose pliers for that.
third, he went from what looked like 1/8 inch to a 3/8 ...should have put a 1/4 inch step in there...which is why...

I stand by the step drill with a wooden backer (or wood-metal-wood sandwich) method, so it can be clamped securely and a clean hole drilled. The wood gives thin sheet metal support so as not to warp or collapse under both the twisting and downward force of the drill press.

A sharper bit would help as well.

 

[beermanpete]

A Greenlee punch would work as well. You still need to drill a hole but it is smaller than the final hole size and gets remove when you punch the final size.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

The lids arrived. These things appear to be the answer. Silicone seals, they drill easily (I used a step bit, I'm sure a regular bit with wood backer would work fine), and the rubber grommet works into the hole just fine.

View attachment 637677

Good to know. Most helpful.

 

[smata67]

The metal lids can rust over time, particularly around the drilled hole, so the plastic ones appear to be the way to go. But how best to sanitize them? I can't find good info as to whether they can withstand boiling. I usually boil my jars along with the lids. Probably best to soak them in a sanitizing solution.

 

[mongoose33]

I finally got around to making an airlock jar out of these plastic lids. It works perfectly. Source is this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...sin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=forumyield-20

4 second video:

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

What drill bit size is recommended to drill the hole for the grommet? I know grommets are 1/2". I ask as I don't want things too tight or too wide (loose). Tried different bit sizes and a step drill on Thursday evening. Unsure if I have the correct diameter hole for the grommet.

Thanks.

 

[smata67]

My holes are exactly 1/2". Some grommets are better than others (larger/smaller gap) at accommodating the lid thickness.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

My holes are exactly 1/2". Some grommets are better than others (larger/smaller gap) at accommodating the lid thickness.

I initially tried a 1/2" hole. No go. Way too tight. Grommet was mis-shapened, as I forced it into the hole (Geez... I realize the proceeding sounds somewhat pornographic...). Airlock won't even go into the grommet.

 

[malter]

A Greenlee punch would work as well. You still need to drill a hole but it is smaller than the final hole size and gets remove when you punch the final size.

This! A hole punch is the tool for the job.

 

[smata67]

Are you sure the hole is exactly 1/2"? I have two kinds of grommets, one is kind of flimsy and thin and the gap for the lid is narrow. The other is heavier and kind of a pain to install, but it has a wider gap which would work better on the plastic lids. The edges on these are square, not rounded like the other type, see pic. I don't think opening the hole for the flimsy grommet is a good solution, best to get the larger gap grommet. On the other hand, the video on Post #24 is the flimsier grommet and they appear to work there. I ordered some of those lids and will get them Monday so as to initiate my own struggle with this issue.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

The grommets I have are LD Carlson.

store.bellsbeer.com/products/replacement-airlock-grommet-for-bucket-lids

 

[mongoose33]

What drill bit size is recommended to drill the hole for the grommet? I know grommets are 1/2". I ask as I don't want things too tight or too wide (loose). Tried different bit sizes and a step drill on Thursday evening. Unsure if I have the correct diameter hole for the grommet.

Thanks.

The grommets I'm using are 3/8". The tubing from a bottle filler is just about 3/8" in diameter (maybe a few thousandths larger). The hole I drilled is 7/16".

https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bend...0&s=gateway&sprefix=evabarrier,aps,155&sr=8-3

 

[smata67]

I got these larger grommets at ace hardware from the little baggie section in the electrical department. They are a bit harder to squeeze into the hole, but I think they would do better when dealing with a thicker lid. They are for 1/2" holes and fit pre-drilled bucket lids just fine.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Mine appears to match the more rounded one on the left. However, when I drilled a 1/2" hole inserting the grommets wasn't easy. Also, the airlock would not push into the grommet. I had to enlarge the hole a bit. I tried so many things I don't remember the hole size. That's why I'm asking. I don't want to spend lots of time experimenting again. I guess I could get the mason jar, with cider yeast, in the beverage center. Remove the grommet and determine the hole size. Thought, and hoped, it would be easier to ask here.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Recommended way to remove the gasket in a plastic lid so as to prevent damaging the gasket?

 

[mongoose33]

Recommended way to remove the gasket in a plastic lid so as to prevent damaging the gasket?

If you're talking about the plastic lids I've noted above, I think you could take a utility knife, x-acto knife, even a pin or needle to get it out of there. Those gaskets are silicone, so they'll be pretty resistant to damage....

 

[Robert65]

The ones I linked at the top of the thread pull out with my finger. Don't they all?

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

The lids and gaskets shown here are the ones I'm using.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/drilling-hole-in-mason-jar-lid.668641/#post-8646187

Gasket really seats into the lid.