Drilling Fairing

[ice_station_zebra]

Looking to drill a small hole (approx 1/4") in my fairing. Is there anything better than a dremmel for doing this....and what kind of bit?...a step bit?

 

[Panman]

I'd be in favor of the step bit, the material is soft so go easy and all should be good.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Echoing Panman, a step bit is the way to go. After picking up a set of step bits, I wonder why I waited so long. Handy to have around!

~G

 

[dcarver]

Maybe apply a little Carver tape first?

 

[BkerChuck]

Agreed on the step bit. I acquired one recently and now wish I'd just dropped the cash years ago and saved myself a whole bunch of grief.

 

[ice_station_zebra]

Great, I just picked up a quality set of step bits on sale at Home Depot for $14.97!

 

[SacramentoMike]

For others' benefit, I made a hole for a set of sliders on my  '05 very easily by marking the limits of the hole with a marker, drilling a starter hole inside the circle, and then removing the very soft plastic a little at a time up to the marked line (I guess with a Dremel--don't remember for sure).  It was perfect, and it was basically hidden by the slider that protruded from the hole anyway.  No extra trip to Home Depot required.

OTOH, you could look at it as an excuse to buy a piece of hardware you don't already have, and that's never a bad thing.

 

[ice_station_zebra]

For others' benefit, I made a hole for a set of sliders on my  '05 very easily by marking the limits of the hole with a marker, drilling a starter hole inside the circle, and then removing the very soft plastic a little at a time up to the marked line (I guess with a Dremel--don't remember for sure).  It was perfect, and it was basically hidden by the slider that protruded from the hole anyway.  No extra trip to Home Depot required.

OTOH, you could look at it as an excuse to buy a piece of hardware you don't already have, and that's never a bad thing.

I got it done today and ditto...very soft plastic...gently, and slowly enlarge the hole. The step bit does work very well and you can slow the rpm's right down and it literally just shaves off a little ribbon of plastic with each turn.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Needs some black paint on that.

JMO, Dave

 

[ice_station_zebra]

Needs some black paint on that.

JMO, Dave

Soon! 

 

[rbentnail]

I got it done today and ditto...very soft plastic...gently, and slowly enlarge the hole. The step bit does work very well and you can slow the rpm's right down and it literally just shaves off a little ribbon of plastic with each turn.

For the newbies to such things, a mention above cannot be overemphasized.  Use a variable speed drill.  Practice maintaining control at slow speed.  Even better if you have a drill with a thumbwheel on the trigger to adjust.  As our friend also found out, a step bit is infinitely better for soft materials than a regular twist drill is. 

 

[dcarver]

Now can anyone tell me the correct methodology to drill a hole in my new PR5? I need to save weight..

 

[SacramentoMike]

Do you have a pistol?

 

[rbentnail]

No, a pistol won't do it. It just punches a hole so losing the air will do little for weight reduction.  You'd do better by filling the tires with helium *.  Do a quick search on Flexco belt lacing tools.  They have hole punches to put in drills specifically designed for making holes in rubber conveyor belting **.

* helium, not hydrogen.  Remember the Hindenburg!  ** not recommended for steel belted tires.

 

[Intech]

For the newbies to such things, a mention above cannot be overemphasized.  Use a variable speed drill.  Practice maintaining control at slow speed.  Even better if you have a drill with a thumbwheel on the trigger to adjust.  As our friend also found out, a step bit is infinitely better for soft materials than a regular twist drill is. 

Helps with "Whiskey throttle" eh?