[sdiy] Making holes in plastic

[Tim Daugard]

From: "Steve Lenham" <lenham at clara.co.uk>
To: "Fiercefish" <fiercefish at btinternet.com>;
<synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>
> A few alternatives spring to mind:
>
> 1. Use a flat wood-boring bit. They are available in large
diameters and
> produce a very neat hole in plastic - I used them on some plastic
electrical
> backboxes with good results. Downside is that they may not be
precise enough
> for you positionally.

Don't use a flat wood boring bit. I tried this method and destroyed
the plastic every time. In plastic - the bit will wander, the
backing will wander or the plastic will crack.

I use a 1/32 inch pilot hole, expand that with a 1/8 inch drill and
expand further with a reaming tool. The tool is available from RS
and Mouser. It is good for holes to about 5/8s. For larger than that
I expand with a Dremel tool with a routing bit. A file works also. I
wouldn't use this method for anything commercial though.

Tim Daugard
AG4GZ 30.4078N 86.6227W Alt: 12 feet above MSL
http://home.sprintmail.com/~daugard/synth.htm