10mm hole in 3mm ply

[winchman]

Bit of a mental block I need to drill a load of 10mm die holes in a sheet of 3mm thick ply. How would you do it?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Router and template. Flush cut bit.
Edit. Its early. I read that as 100mm holes.

 

[JMS1972]

Bit of a mental block I need to drill a load of 10mm die holes in a sheet of 3mm thick ply. How would you do it?

If it's A4 sized I'd use my CO2 laser cutter....

 

[tom 748]

10mm drill bit

 

[Ton-up]

Straight Shank Brad Point Wood Drill Bit 10mm x 133mm - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Precision-ground drill tip for smooth drilling in hardwood and softwood. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[Gareth J]

I had a devil of a job doing this on a panel for the interior of a van. Everything made a gnarly splintered hole. Normal bits, pointy wood bits like above, expanding bits.

I'd think a tiny holesaw would work best if you could get one.

 

[rosinante]

Hi , I would use a 10 mm forstner bit with a backing piece, would leave a clean hole , or a router and a 10mm bit with bottom cut , the cheap bits don't normally have bottom cut ,

 

[Beanwood]

Not worried whether it's forstner or spade bit (Spade bit is easier if you're positioning freehand) but ideally clamp to a backing piece to reduce tearout.

 

[8ob]

Bit of a mental block I need to drill a load of 10mm die holes in a sheet of 3mm thick ply. How would you do it?

If its not fitted in anything yet I would use a Wad punch.

Bob

 

[mike os]

3mm won't drill well without a backing board to support the sheet and drill bit, probably a sheet of mdf behind it ... it will get wrecked

 

[gordon stephenson]

Hole saw.

 

[Kayos]

How many is a load?

More than 5 and I'd give the oppo a drill with a spade bit then go do something else

 

[Seadog]

A hole saw is unlikely to be piloted, so the operation would need a bench or pillar drill to be successful.

 

[Hitch]

I'd go down the forster bit route with a bit of mdf behind if it needs to be a clean hole.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Really does depend what you class as a lot.

For a lot of holes at set distance I would make a jig and use a bush

 

[grim_d]

Personally I'd throw it on the CNC and use a 1/8 compression bit.

But the serious answer would be a GOOD forstner or Brad point bit.

 

[Screwdriver]

Forstner or Brad, I'd be drilling half on one side then complete from the other. 3mm ply is too delicate even for sacrificial backing imo. You might even be better off punching a hole, depends on the quality of the ply and the required finish.

 

[gaz1]

if you have loads to do and plenty of other uses then a build is worth it

 

[bigegg]

I'd use a 10mm bit in a router, backed with MDF.
I have a clear perspex "targeting" base with crosshairs marked, so I can centre the bit on gridlines which makes accurate [1] positioning easy.

[1] accurate enough for woodworking.

 

[Dcal]

if you have loads to do and plenty of other uses then a build is worth it

Brilliant.
About 3 mins in I though, bet this guy makes guitars.

How long does it take for a luthier to change a light bulb?
3 weeks, 1 second.
3 weeks to make and set up the jig
1 second to change the light bulb