Drilling perspex?

**jellywrestler** · 2nd February 2016, 19:59

tried it many a time and have a new faring blank to cut and fit this time. common old hss drills have a sttep angle on them, I beleive there are other drill bits more suitable for this job, time to discuss folks, and who stocks them.

**sidecar bob** · 2nd February 2016, 20:04

Not sure about special drills, but the key to drilling Perspex is patience.
If you push, it will crack, don't even use the weight of the drill, that will be too much.
I usually tape the area to be drilled & drill through the tape to prevent any scratching around the hole.

**Madness** · 2nd February 2016, 20:05

Drop into PG2000 in Lorne Street, Te Aro and talk to Gunther.

**Ocean1** · 2nd February 2016, 20:11

https://www.drillstapsdies.co.nz/

I never bother with low rake drills though. With a bit of care you can grind a standard drill like the one half way down the page: http://www.bcae1.com/plexi.htm

Slow. Use CRC 556 or similar. Champher the edges.

**bogan** · 2nd February 2016, 20:13

A fine step drill (non-spiral) should be, well, fine for that sort of job

**Big Dog** · 2nd February 2016, 20:42

The method I have used before is to just use a standard general purpose drill bit on low speed through masking tape and have someone else spray water on the tip as I went. But then I only had 2 holes to make.
If I had more to make I might have blown the cobwebs off the wallet and got a specific bit as above.

Sent via tapatalk.

**nodrog:Me** · 2nd February 2016, 21:07

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

tried it many a time and have a new faring blank to cut and fit this time. common old hss drills have a sttep angle on them, I beleive there are other drill bits more suitable for this job, time to discuss folks, and who stocks them.

Believe or not but old dull drill bits are better than brand new sharp drill bits on acrylics.

**ellipsis** · 2nd February 2016, 21:16

Originally Posted by nodrog

Believe or not but old dull drill bits are better than brand new sharp drill bits on acrylics.

...oi've driv a fucking shitload of holes in acrylics in the course of my daily slog and have never had a problem 'cos all my bits have been fucked forever so I will have to go with nodrog on this...bad hearing can also lead to teeth problems, did you know?...

**Virago** · 2nd February 2016, 21:18

I just use standard drill bits. The key to success is using a drill press - that way you can accurately control the slow feed, and most importantly prevent the bit from biting. Never had a problem yet.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 2nd February 2016, 21:28

Thanks for the tips, chaps. EVERY time I have tried it I have split or cracked it. Brittle as fuck or something. Plus I am a munter.

**nodrog:Me** · 2nd February 2016, 21:29

Originally Posted by Virago

I just use standard drill bits. The key to success is using a drill press - that way you can accurately control the slow feed, and most importantly prevent the bit from biting. Never had a problem yet.

The key to not getting fired from your job at a plastics company, is not to fuck around all day drilling a hole the slowest way possible.

**jellywrestler** · 2nd February 2016, 21:36

Originally Posted by Virago

I just use standard drill bits. The key to success is using a drill press - that way you can accurately control the slow feed, and most importantly prevent the bit from biting. Never had a problem yet.

it's a fairing blade, no fit in drill press, battery drill have several settings and often can be taped at a very slow speed, done plenty of this before but the internaughty is my friend when i want to learn a little other advice...

**ellipsis** · 2nd February 2016, 21:58

...I worked on a job where the only tools on the job site were a big hammer, a blunt rusty saw and a 4 gallon bucket of sperm oil...everything always seemed to fuck up but we never had to use them tools we had...thank fuck...