tricks.for.drilling.plastic?

[all-natural-nut]

I.have.my.plastic.buckets,grommets,and.air-locks.
i'm.ready.to.drill!!

BUT--last.time.i.tried.to.drill.plastic,it.was.not.very.pretty.

I'm.wondering.if.someone.can.give.me.some.hints.before.i.ruin.my.bucket.lids.

thanks.so.much!

 

[foyt20]

Slow the bit down, dont go full blast and steady pressure. Also, not putting punctuation between every word may help

Welcome to the board, I am also from NJ.

 

[Sheldon]

I used a step drill bit to cut a hole in a fermenting bucket lid to fit a grommet. Easy to use.

 

[rico567]

Slow speed with a nice sharp paddle (wood) bit makes a nice clean hole. You will have to trim some flash from the edges, but that's easily done. 1/2" paddle bit is great for grommets. Going over 2", use a hole saw, but the edges won't be as smooth.

 

[shortyjacobs]

All the advice here is good...I just have one question, is your space key broken?

 

[Bobby_M]

I've seen people that ignore the punctuation keys in the past but.this.is.like.the.comp.lete.opposite.of.that.

 

[the_bird]

Somebody.got.a.new.smartphone.and.can't.find.the.space.bar.

 

[jbrookeiv]

Why.so.many.periods.?

 

[JonM]

Anyone else read that in kind of a robot voice?

 

[Homercidal]

We get the point! (Get it? POINT? Like in period?)

 

[bengerman]

on flat surfaces, i've had great success just using a normal all-purpose twist bit, but back the plastic with a piece of wood, and start it slow. usually i end up with a little bit of a burr, but a box cutter cleans that up.

 

[MyNameIsPaul]

New Jersey, huh? PaulieD must have gotten into homebrewing and is posting while druck!

 

[schmoe]

Anyone else read that in kind of a robot voice?

That is exactly how I read it.

 

[the_bird]

Maybe it's a Turing test for homebrewers. Either that, or it's Bender needing help with his Benderbrau.

 

[TBrosBrewing]

Step bit or Unibit. It will make a perfect hole every time and size it exactly. Just don't go too far or your hole will be bigger than desired. I've watched many people ruin a brand new bucket with a paddle bit.

 

[k2zr2]

Anyone else read that in kind of a robot voice?

I.did.

 

[all-natural-nut]

All the advice here is good...I just have one question, is your space key broken?

you.got.it.

i.get.tired.of.explaining,so.i.tend.to.get.abused,as.in.here.

glad.to.give.some.net.friends.a.laugh...

thanks.so.much.everyone.for.the.terrific.hints!!

sorry.for.the.hard-to-read.post!

 

[bengerman]

you can also highlight a space somewhere, ctrl+c that, and ctrl+v wherever you need a space.

 

[foyt20]

I would invest in a new keyboard.

 

[Beer_Guy]

Hold the Alt key down, type 32 and release.

 

[Beer_Guy]

Oh, and for drilling plastic holes, get a auger wood bit and go slow.

 

[beaksnbeer]

2 words only Hole saw

 

[ThreeDogsNE]

If you are looking for the cleanest edges on the holes, get a Forstner bit. They are like round punches or cork borers with a cutout to clear the shavings. I have a cheap Chinese set I got at Menards for something like $10 on sale. You can't beat them for giving smooth clean sides on the holes.

If you come back often, you can learn a lot here. If you visit often, you can also probably get some of us to take up a collection for your new keyboard!

 

[bengerman]

got my keyboard/mouse combo at Fry's. $9.95, IIRC.

 

[Stevo2569]

If you are looking for the cleanest edges on the holes, get a Forstner bit. They are like round punches or cork borers with a cutout to clear the shavings. I have a cheap Chinese set I got at Menards for something like $10 on sale. You can't beat them for giving smooth clean sides on the holes.

If you come back often, you can learn a lot here. If you visit often, you can also probably get some of us to take up a collection for your new keyboard!

+1 forstner bits work great in anything but metal.

 

[funkadelicturkey]

for my grommet, I used a smaller drill bit for a pilot hole, a larger drill bit (my largest, wasn't big enough), and then a 1/4 drum sander on my dremel...round and round until I was able to squeeze the grommet in there.