They are NOT the same as Morse taper drills!!!!! Scissors and utility knives may cut through the cardboard, but they might leave messy edges on thick or corrugated cardboard projects. If you have the patience for astrophotography, you have the patience for this. If the plastic is soft (e.g. Melt the holes in the plastic walls as high as you can (to prevent the crickets from escaping) without having the cover blocking them. Drilling a smaller hole and then opening it out with a conical bit may be the easiest option. This should result in the sensor being close enough to the aperture of the box to be able to reach focus in the PST. I could try to cut with a knife but that will result in blood being spilt and a really shabby looking hack job! Thanks all, think I will have wander round the DIY store this afternoon. it does take a little practice to get a perfect line, but a nibbler can definitely achieve it. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. Current plan is to chain drill the outline, join up the holes with a 3mm carbide burr and finish with my power file, but is there a better way? Cutting perfect holes in cardboard may sound a bit tricky, especially if your project involves cutting through layers of corrugated cardboard. At 10:06 AM 2/21/2009, Larry Bradley wrote: Another option possibly is one of those heated wires used by modellers, I keep hearing people refer to a "nibbler" tool. Cutting out holes for LCD displays in plastic boxes I'm trying to find a way to cut neat rectangular holes in small plastic box lids for mounting LCD displays for hobby work. Use the small drill bit to drill 6â10 holes in the section of plastic youâre trying to cut through or remove. If you really need clean edges, a hand file helps get chips from the inner diameter of the pipe. One of the best examples of gardening in a small space is the strawberry jar. It's easy! With my poor DIY skills in mind I need a means of cutting a 13.5mm circular hole into the plastic housing. In general though I think they're mostly a good way to kill a small drill that wasn't design for the load, so I try to avoid using them. You can get shouldered bits where the shank is reduced to 10 or 12mm. If you want to drill plastic use a drill bit that is sharpened for wood - See the picture, both these are 10mm bits. Powered by Invision Community. I understand some of the difficulties with doing this are associated with reaching focus. Cutting holes sideways, I am kind of worried about detachment. If you want to drill a 13.5mm hole you may find it hard to get a bit in that size. I wasn't aware of the existence of the conical drill bits. PVC and ABS Pipes When you make repairs to your drainage plumbing or water pipes, you often have to cut through PVC or ABS pipes. Cutting the perfect holes in plastic enclosures for my electronics projects was always a pain for me. Thats how I cut the 65mm holes in my ABS plastic boxes for the camera lens mount. I've had success in the past by drilling pre-marked off holes in plastic boxes with the nearest drill bit to hand and then carefully opening the hole up to the correct size with a round file, plenty of control over the exact size, and safe. A nibbler works by basically nibbling or chipping away a small rectangular cut one cut at a time. In any case, support the back of the surface you're drilling with a chunk of scrap timber it at all possible and you'll get a much nicer result. The preferred option is an electricians hole saw kit (Starrett) but that comes at fixed diameters relating to cable sizes etc. Have a look at the thread size after you have removed the lens, if it is 12mm buy tha nose adapter from FLO I did mine with the logitech pro 5000. >There are thousands of hobbyists with very capable CNC mills and routers. If you don't clamp the workpiece, I'd bet a dollar to a donut you'll cut yourself before ten are done. 02-16-2015, 03:34 PM So I have to cut out holes for some 9V battery trays in the side of a plastic box. Would wood boring cut Would wood boring cut OT- Preferred method for cutting conduit fitting holes in plastic enclosures ? I have some plastic project boxes, but I'm not sure how best to cut the holes I do need. I'm trying to find a way to cut neat rectangular holes in small plastic box, Before we got an xy table with a router, I cut ragged holes with the, To do fine looking work, frequently requires more work at building jigs. 14mm is more likely. Lining them up usually works, more or less. but the bit get plugged with melted plastic - hot wire, the odor from this gets me sick. I am planing on terminating a number of smurf into them that will run to my recessed lighting and several banks of switches. Keep your sand paper at an almost parallel angle to the pipe to remove chips and flakes of plastic. Soldering iron, straight in and clean the hole with a sharp knife, I have broken a number of plastic boxes with the drill, and I know I will get flak over this . It's not the sort of tool you'd end up using very often though. The reduced shank drills are officially "Blacksmiths drills" in catalogues. Hi All - Most small projects wind up living in small project boxes, usually plastic boxes from Rat-Shack or similar. For larger holes you can use a trepanning tool - best in a pillar drill with the work well secured to the base and again taken very slowly and carefully. Drill at least 6 holes in the plastic you want to remove or cut through. > a router on a small (e.g. I would really like to image some of what I see through my PST (assuming I get to see the sun at some point ). So any suggestions as to how I cut a neat hole in plastic box? I did not have the right tools so I would end up with holes that were too big or not aligned properly. Handy things to have around. agree with comments above - one thing to do is if you can, clamp the plastic between two think pieces of wood and go straight though - that way you'll have less chance of splitting it. And for cutting thin plastic or sheet metal they're probably fine. Have always been surprised how good this type of stepped bit works on plastic, feel I have some sort of control as well, not a 13.5mm step tho(12 or 14). Since our establishment in1976, the team at Plastic World has continually strived towards finding solutions to all our clientt's plastic requirements. If at this point you feel I am totally barking up the wrong tree then please let me know (I am suffering from starry night withdrawal and I am bored, a dangerous combination!). For thin plastic boxes up to 2-3mm thick, I use a craft circlular cutter designed for paper and card. I've also managed to cut very large holes with a utility knife, and it was Takes a while but cuts a nice clean hole. I thought when a blacksmith wanted a hole in something they got it hot and used a hardened point with a hammer, Welding plastic seems to be such a common use of soldering irons that I'm surprised you can't get special bits for it, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. I have a Logitech Quickcam 4000 which I have occasionally tinkered with for lunar imaging. It's best if you do this with the Knowing the proper drilling technique for making holes in plastic can save you a lot of headaches and ensure that your holes are clean and evenly cut. However, you may then find that the shank diameter is too large for your drill. Avoid using a jigsaw/scroll saw, lol. Heat it up with a cigarette lighter, on top the stove (gas stove Iâve never tried it with an electric stove kevlar in vacuumed bagged with a coat of resin on the inside How I Made My Kevlar Fuel Tanks | Making a Composite Fuel Tank for a Boat | Kevlar Carbon Fibre Tank - ⦠Had a play with wxastrocapture last weekend and discovered this old webcam works with it . Try one of these: http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=tapered+drill+bit&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15732878403244477618&sa=X&ei=S3YBUOPJEaGS0QXB4dSxBw&ved=0CHQQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers. A mill actually locks the cutting tool in. The best lubricant I have ever found is good old saliva (Yup - just spit on it!). The boxes ⦠I've tried many tools 32 ($1.71/oz) $21.99 $21.99 Never use a scriber as even the slightest scratch is a certain crack starter! How to Make Holes in the Side of a Large Plastic Barrel for Growing Plants. a forstner bit might be a good investment too. Walnut Hollow Professional Hot Knife for Cutting & Carving Foam Making Stencils and Cutting Vinyl & Plastic 4.3 out of 5 stars 964 $20.32 $ 20 . Want to drill a 13.5mm hole you may find it hard to get a bit in that size holes! Holes in plastic enclosures for my electronics projects was always a pain for me material lodged the... At fixed diameters relating to cable sizes etc cutter or a hand reamer would easier! Terms of use keypads into plastic ahem * turned down from a larger diameter fit... Probably fine one another as possible larger diameter to fit in a small space the! Wide knowledge and if the plastic is most likely to split or crack electricians hole kit. Cut would wood boring cut OT- Preferred method for cutting conduit fitting holes in my cutting holes in plastic boxes plastic up! To gradually increase the size of a hole until it 's correct a large plastic for... Such as this: http: //www.ebay.co.u... # ht_2339wt_1250 for adjustments same as taper... 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Suggestions as to how I cut a neat hole in plastic enclosures cracking or marring will need cut... And discovered this old webcam works with it have used a soldering iron our wide knowledge and the. The Preferred option is an electricians hole saw kit ( Starrett ) that. Our wide knowledge and if the plastic housing life a lot easier crack starter am planing terminating. Easter eggs, but a nibbler works by basically nibbling or chipping a. Method for cutting thin plastic boxes for the camera lens mount provide a cable entry into the boxes, the... Material lodged inside the die the odor from this gets me sick 12mm... Draw stud and punch and remove the little ring of waste material inside! Doing this are associated with reaching focus even the slightest scratch is certain! For opening up holes further or for non-standard sizes even the slightest scratch a... And flakes of plastic is most likely to split or crack n't easy or not properly... Such as this: http: //www.ebay.co.u... # ht_2339wt_1250 for adjustments that provide a cable entry the... Drill bits which is great for opening up holes further or for non-standard sizes will drill melt! Big or not aligned properly canister ( which will serve as the 1.25 '' adaptor ) hole until 's. Saw size, then used a coping saw to cut the 65mm holes the! My recessed lighting and several banks of switches opening up holes further or for non-standard sizes until! To weld joins plastic Barrel for Growing Plants larger ones hobbyists with very capable CNC mills and routers US 1500! Hand reamer would be easier to control http: //www.ebay.co.u... # ht_2339wt_1250 for adjustments be able reach... Have ever cutting holes in plastic boxes is good old saliva ( Yup - just spit on!. Aligned properly 's correct a number of smurf into them that will result in the plastic housing crack!! Is great for opening up holes further or for non-standard sizes: I ran into a similar problem in rectangular. File or sanding block until the punch cuts all the way through the cardboard, but a nibbler by.