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Drilling laminate. Router or Forstner?

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nickbuol:

I've done searches and have been reading for what seems like hours now, but can't find the answer to my question.

I have a nice router, I have a drill press.  For control panel holes (joysticks and buttons), with a laminated top, which is better, using a forstner bit and drill press, or drilling my wood with a spade (cheaper than other bits), and then laminating it, and then drilling a hole just big enough to use a laminate trim bit and my router?

I found people asking about spade vs. forstner, and spade vs. router, but not router vs. forstner.

While I am already going to have to buy a laminate trim bit for my router, if the forstner is better or easier, I would rather buy it too because I am working on a larger 4 player, so I have a lot of holes to drill.

Also, what do I do for a 3" Happs trackball?  Router method?

Thanks for any insight.


CJK:

If you're going to be drilling a lot of holes (and in this hobby, who isn't?), best to do it in one step. I'd go for a carbide-tipped Forstner bit -- if you're using a drill press, the Forstner bit will be easy to use. High speed steel bits will get dull fast if you're drilling through laminate, thus the recommendation for a carbide bit.

My $0.02, and worth every penny.   ;)

-- Chris

nickbuol:

What about the trackball hole?

Timoe:

Are you flush mounting the trackball mount under the laminate?  Or will it be flush mounted under printed vinyl?

pointdablame:

If you're using a trackball mounting plate, its a lot easier.  Your hole can be far from perfect.  You can either use a router to recess the plate so that the CP is flush, or leave it on top of the CP.

The plate makes it pretty self-explanatory.  You'll need a hole for the trackball (obviously), and the holes for the bolts welded to the plate.  After that, you'll be good to go.

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