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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: bk2099 on April 24, 2007, 12:14:10 pm

Title: What's the best way to drill through plexi and wood?
Post by: bk2099 on April 24, 2007, 12:14:10 pm

Hi, I just bought Dynamo HS-5 arcade control panel and I need to know what's the best way to drill holes into it? Do I remove the plexi and drill into the wood first? Or do I drill them both at the same time. And, is there a special bit I should use?

Sorry for the newbie question. Here is the control panel in question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140083467839&rd=1&rd=1

Thanks.

Title: Re: What's the best way to drill through plexi and wood?
Post by: TOK on April 24, 2007, 01:42:31 pm

The way that has worked best for me is to have a piece of scrap wood sandwiching the plexi.
I used a standard, sharp, 1 1/8" paddle bit and drilled the panel from below with the plexi in the middle and the scrap wood keeping the holes from blowing out and the plexi from cracking.

Its easy to work with but brittle and cracks if you put too much pressure on it. The wood keeps that from happening. I've read others just go lightly or use a hole saw with the drill spinning backwards.

Title: Re: What's the best way to drill through plexi and wood?
Post by: Tahnok on April 24, 2007, 03:14:53 pm

For small holes (bolts), use a normal bit and run the drill in reverse. Just slowly melt through and you shouldn't have any problems with cracking.

For larger holes (buttons, joysticks, etc), first drill the wooden CP with whatever bit you'd like. Then, clamp the plexi on top of the wood and use either a pattern cutting or flush trim router bit. Routers absolutely eat plexi with no real chance of cracking it.

Title: Re: What's the best way to drill through plexi and wood?
Post by: RichSorr on April 24, 2007, 04:11:44 pm

simple, just go slow and let the bit do all the work.