Drilling through Laminate - technique Question

[Jm1010]

I've just finished the design and drilling of my control panel, glued a sheet of laminate on top and just have a question on how to proceed to finish the laminate holes. I know that you're supposed to drill a hole i the laminate then finish with the router but it's kinda hard to find the middle of each existing mdf hole from the top. Can we drill from the underside of the control panel ie the unfinished laminate side? any risk of chippping?

Thanks!

[Games001]

If you are using a drill bit just the size of the router bit, then drilling into a joystick or button hole should not take up too much space.  I would suggest a bit of wood clamped to the 'front side' when you drill in from the 'backside'.  It will aid in cutting down on chipping.

[somunny]

Like games said, flip the panel laminate-side down and clamp it to a piece of scrap.  Now you can drill right through without any worries.  Personally, I use a 1 1/8 spade bit (post-pilot hole) and haven't had any issues.

[ChadTower]

Since redoing chipped laminate is such a pain it is worth putting some masking tape on it before clamping the scrap piece, too. 

[Games001]

And if you are looking for the cleanest cut possible, a Forstner bit in 1 1/8" will cut even smoother holes.  Just go slowly and let the bit eat away at the hole as it reaches the laminate side.

[shmokes]

Have you already drilled holes through the MDF?  It sounds like you have.  I drilled out all my holes in my panel before laminating and then used a router with a templateflush trim bit to finish the job through the button holes.  If you have a plunge router you can plunge it right through the laminate (virtually no chance of chipping).  If you have a fixed base router, just drill through the laminate from the under side with a drill bit just big enough to create a hole that the router bit will fit through (comfortably), and then use a router to finish the job.

Keep in mind, if you permanently mounted your carriage bolts under the laminate so the hardware would be invisible on top, you probably will need a flush-trim bit rather than a template bit, because the carriage bolts will get in the way of the router base on bottom.  A flush trim bit has the bearing on the bottom of the bit, a pattern bit has the bearing between the cutting blade and the shank.  If this is the case, I recommend masking the whole surface before you clean up your holes.  You don't want to scratch that surface while putting the finishing touches on it.

[Jm1010]

you guys know your stuff! I'm done with my control panel... three week end later but the result is just great!

[fjl]

pics please