How to Drill a Hole in Plastic (8 Step Guide)
Did you drill through plastic but end up with cracks and chips?
Working with plastic or acrylic can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you're used to working with wood, brick, or metal. You must understand the brittle nature of the material and the drilling technique. Don't worry as I wrote this article to teach you how to drill holes in plastic and what type of drill will help you avoid cracking.
We'll go into details below.
8 steps on how to drill a hole in plastic
Drilling through plastic may seem like a simple task, but if you're not careful, chips and cracks can appear on the plastic.
Here are the steps to get it right.
Step 1: Prepare your materials
Prepare the necessary materials and tools for the drilling process, such as:
- Pencil
- Governor
- Drill at different speeds
- Bit of the right size
- Sandpaper
- chuck
- Artist's ribbon
- Смазка
Step 2: mark the spot
Use a ruler and pencil to mark where you will drill. A plastic drill, as a result of an error, requires accurate measurements and markings. Now there is no turning back!
Step 3: Pinch the plastic
Press the plastic firmly against a stable surface and support the part of the plastic you are drilling with a piece of plywood underneath, or place the plastic on a bench designed to be drilled. By doing this, you will reduce the chance that resistance will interfere with the drill.
Step 4: Place the twist beat
Insert the drill into the drill and tighten it. Also, this is the best time to double-check that you are using the correct bit size. Then move the drill to the forward position.
Step 5: Set the drilling speed to the lowest
Select the lowest drilling speed. If you're using a drill without an adjustment knob, make sure the bit is pushing lightly into the plastic and try to control the speed by slowly drilling into the workpiece.
Step 6: Start Drilling
You can then start drilling through the plastic. When drilling, make sure that the plastic does not peel off or stick together. In this case, stop drilling to allow the area to cool.
Step 7: Move to Reverse
Change the movement or setting of the drill to reverse and remove the drill from the finished hole.
Step 8: Smooth Out The Area
Sand the area around the hole with sandpaper. Try not to rub the area when looking for cracks, scuffs, or broken pieces. When using plastic, any crack will degrade the quality of the cut.
Basic Tips
To prevent the plastic from cracking, heed the following tips:
- You can attach masking tape to the plastic area where you are going to drill to keep the rest of the plastic from cracking. Then, after drilling, take it out.
- Use a small drill to start, then use an appropriately sized drill to widen the hole to the desired size.
- When drilling deeper holes, use lubricant to remove unwanted debris and reduce heat. You can use lubricants such as WD40, canola oil, vegetable oil, and dishwashing detergent.
- To prevent the drill from overheating, pause or slow down.
- Always wear protective equipment when working with power tools. Always maintain a safe work environment.
- Use a slower drilling speed when drilling plastic because high drilling speeds cause excessive friction that melts through the plastic. In addition, a slower pace will allow the chips to leave the hole faster. So, the larger the hole in the plastic, the slower the drilling speed.
- Because plastics expand and contract with temperature changes, drill a hole 1-2mm larger than required to allow for screw movement, contraction and thermal expansion without stressing the material.
Suitable drill bits for plastic
While you can use any drill to drill through plastic, using the correct size and type of drill bit is critical to avoid chipping or cracking the material. I recommend using the following drills.
Dowel drill
The dowel drill has a center point with two raised lugs to help align the bit. The point and angle of the front end of the bit ensures smooth cutting and reduces stress on the front end. Because it leaves a hole with a clean side, this is a great plastic bit. Does not leave roughness that can lead to cracks.
Twist drill HSS
The standard high speed steel (HSS) twist drill is made of carbon steel reinforced with chromium and vanadium. I recommend drilling plastic with a twist drill that has been used at least once, as it prevents the drill from burring and cutting into the plastic. (1)
Step drill
The step drill is a cone-shaped drill with a gradually increasing diameter. They are usually made of steel, cobalt or carbide coated steel. Because they can create smooth and straight hole sides, stepped bits are ideal for drilling holes in plastic or acrylic. The resulting hole is clean and free of burrs. (2)
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- What is a step drill used for?
- Wiring
Recommendations
(1) High speed steel - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/
mechanical engineering / high speed steel
(2) acrylic - https://www.britannica.com/science/acrylic
Video link
