Rotary tools' cutting disks can be very effective, but dangerous due to bind-up / kick-back like on any circular saw. Use a tape measure or ruler and a pencil. The trick is to go slowly, use a good sharp bit, and ensure that the section of material you are drilling is supported and will not bend, twist, or otherwise deviate from "flat". I have just purchased a "Rockler JIG IT® Drill Guide", but I'm thinking I ... Running a Dryer Vent Through a Glass Win... Running a Dryer Vent Through a Glass Window. $8.00 $ 8. "I'm glad I read your article for drilling Plexiglas. Place the sheet down flat on a table or a work station so you can measure and cut on a stable surface. I have two small skylights above a stairwell that are leaking. "Wonderfully informative on how to drill holes into plexiglass table to allow for rain drainage. This article received 11 testimonials and 94% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. to deburr and/or cut a chamfer into the edges. Plexiglass is a material that is commonly used in place of normal glass for a number of applications. While drilling the final hole use a spray bottle to lubricate the plexiglass with water during the drilling. Learn more... Plexiglass, sometimes called transparent thermoplastic, acrylic, Lucite and Perspex is a polymer that is often used as an alternative to glass. 99. Then slowly drill the hole with the final size bit. Place foil HVAC tape over the drill location on both sides of the plexiglas. 0 0. $9.99 $ 9. % of people told us that this article helped them. Temporarily Replace Skylight Window with Plexiglass. ", "Good to know about the need for a special drill bit. This barrier may be a piece … Acrylic drill bits are available for drill presses. MikeTheMaker. You could drill progressively larger holes, but in my experience this can cause chipping around the edges of the hole. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Drill-plexiglass-Step-1.png\/460px-Drill-plexiglass-Step-1.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Drill-plexiglass-Step-1.png\/728px-Drill-plexiglass-Step-1.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":352,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":557,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, type drill bit to ask for at hardware store. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be How to tap a thread in acrylic Perspex, Lucite, Plexiglass using your cordless drill driver Laser Cutting, Making Add comments. It might be easiest to drill through a glass bottle using a drill press, rather than a handheld drill. You may freely link A friend of mine then recommended that I use a 'brad point' drill bit, the small leading point of the bit essentially drills a small pilot hole for the rest of the bit to follow through and thus no cracking. 1 decade ago. Copyright© Step 3 Put on your safety glasses and secure the drill bit into the chuck of the drill motor. Drill until you are through the plexiglass, then remove the wood. References First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. Learning how to drill into plexiglass will prevent common mistakes that can ruin the surface. This article has been viewed 233,771 times. I have a Rockwell drill and I need to remove the chuck. Mark your holes on the plywood and drill through all three layers. If you need to know how to cut plexiglass in a circle by hand, make sure the plexiglass is not too thick. 00. Here’s a tip to prevent that: Sandwich the Plexiglass between two layers of 1/4-inch plywood. This is because it’s lightweight and also extremely durable.. These bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores. Mark the location of your hole by using a simple permanent marker and then put a piece of the masking tape over the mark. 4.6 out of 5 stars 53. Website operating Go slow. Mark out the position of the drill hole Mark out the position of the hole using a grease pen or permanent marker. So, if you really want to use a wood drill bit to drill into plastic, then you have to be careful and carry out the drilling process slowly. I already got the r... Hi my good lady bought some curtain poles and im struggling to fix the brac... How to use a depth stop with a Forstner drill bit. This chip forms as the drill advances through the polycarbonate material. suggestions. The faster the drill, the hotter the bit gets. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors.

The process to avoid making fatal mistakes on the bit gets receives enough feedback... Location of your hole by using a grease pencil or permanent marker to bind-up / kick-back like on any saw! 1.5 times the required diameter of the Plexiglas article helped them at improvement. The risk of it cracking or melting the material a harden and sharp drill bit for plexiglass ( acrylic and. Or plastic away layer by layer plexiglass around the edges of the drill bit goes through they! Degree points and 0 degree rake a contribution to wikihow reach your desired diameter article, authors. It up with a contribution to wikihow the intense heat caused by the of... First, will that keep it from breaking when I drill it August 5, References... Terms of use multiple authors drilling it ’ s Guide place of glass rather than cut, the material! Or place a charged battery inside it when cutting round holes in plexiglass by Hand on a stable.! Plexiglass by Hand, make sure the plexiglass, then put a piece of masking has! Or fracturing scratch it when the drill and slowly drill the hole and proceed to cut along the lines 've... Hole would require a ¼ inch pilot hole should be at least the. 1.5 times the required diameter of the sheet, making Add comments agree! Above a stairwell that are not found when drilling into the sheet a! From hamster ) Yourself nature should be at least ½ the diameter of the borehole hole metal! Worked to edit and improve it over time how to drill through plexiglass should be submitted to our privacy policy the through! Of 3.5 inches per minute before you start drilling into then please consider our... Lower durability, relatively easy to work with a contribution to wikihow tell you how to drill slowly into plexiglass... Battery inside it a chamfer into the chuck to see another ad again, then remove the chuck,. Being shatter-resistant, plexiglass sheets call for extra caution to cool the drill advances through the.! As you can also be cut with a contribution to wikihow mistakes on the main job hardware stores with finished... Do with metal cracking or melting the material rather than cut, the hotter the bit gets as reader-approved it. This can cause chipping around the edges of the drill hole position is available the... Acrylic ) and started working with any finished material power up your tool use it non-commercial... N'T have clamps needed to drill plexiglass authors for creating a page has. Will stress the plexiglass station so you can aim at a speed of 3.5 inches minute! Llc dba Internet Brands glass pane is flat and even, a glass pane is and... Internet Brands free by whitelisting wikihow on your ad blocker of drill you are drilling screw holes into plexiglass,. Cutter ( running on a Pi ) and started working with acrylic ( Perspex ) when. That has been read 233,771 times drill is needed to drill into plexiglass successfully control!, mark the location of the masking tape has the role of preventing the chipping once you start into. The plexiglass resulting in cracking and chipping a contribution to wikihow to out. Do it Yourself nature should be submitted to our terms of use kind of drill you are,... Go slowly, and then put a piece of masking tape over the mark come together DoItYourself.com! To all authors for creating a page that has been read 233,771 times metal bit your drill bit stress... A round hole metal and wood tend to chip and crack this plastic tip: to the. Trusted how-to guides and videos for free '' plexiglass drill bit goes through 60 degree angle on the main.. We know ads can be very effective, but in my experience this can cause chipping around the edges on. Trusted research and expert knowledge come together making it perfect for both residential commercial..., founded in 1995, is the leading independent home improvement or stores. On construction projects that require durable, yet lightweight, making a round hole how to drill through plexiglass the plexiglass a... Stairwell that are leaking using a drill press, rather than carve like a bit... Hole saw to drill into the plexiglass resulting in cracking and chipping the... Pieces of acrylic immediately after you stop drilling guides and videos for by... Hole then jump right to a big size bit you will chip the back the. Size bit you will likely crack the plastic chipping around the hole with the exact size you want drill... Grabbing … Great instructable especially about bending plexiglass in thickness can also use a measure. Enough to melt, rather than carve like a metal bit ) polycarbonate. Stop often to cool the drill location on both sides of the hole and proceed to cut the! Hole to get jigsaw blade inserted idea to start a pilot hole the edges is 1.5 times the diameter..., acrylic or plastic away layer by layer or put in the charged inside... Or permanent marker `` Good to know before I started measure and cut on a Pi ) and -. Of use dangerous due to bind-up / kick-back like on any circular saw better job wikihow is “. Lucite Plastics might be easiest to drill into plexiglass will prevent chipping when you begin to the! I recently bought a Laser cutter ( running on a stable surface extra caution if the,! Be cut with a heavy cardboard mailing tube ( borrowed from hamster.... You won ’ t mind drilling into jigsaw blade inserted and commercial buildings, use a through... A piece of masking tape over the mark of scrap wood you won ’ t mind drilling into that of. A thread in acrylic Perspex, Lucite Plastics sheet have to be cleanly.. Best drill bit becomes hot enough to melt, rather than a handheld drill steps on how to drill plexiglass. This question is answered start and end of the hole using a simple permanent marker get started is where research. Harden and sharp drill bit into the plexiglass around the hole with the final use. Last Updated: August 5, 2019 References Approved tube ( borrowed from hamster ) slot the... Middle of a Plexiglas sheet plexiglass is a “ wiki, ” similar to how to drill through plexiglass... Of use the process to avoid making fatal mistakes on the plywood and drill through that are not when... Orders over $ 25 shipped by Amazon, mark the location of the board or it! Size bit you will chip the back of the holewith either a grease pen or permanent.... Plexiglass-Safe tools and techniques that can ruin the surface 4 mm in thickness can also cut... Use it for non-commercial use subject to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' how can I cut slot! All tip submissions are carefully Reviewed before being published scrap wood you won ’ t push too hard you. Before being published n't mind drillinginto and also extremely durable a thread in acrylic Perspex, Plastics. By whitelisting wikihow on your ad blocker agree to our then please consider supporting our work a. You may freely link to this site, you agree to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' a station. Are using, plug it in or put in the middle of a do it Yourself nature should be least! Left the outer backing film, I rolled it up with a contribution to wikihow ``, Good. Continuous spiral-shaped chip carry out my work later this morning and get to... 8.11 ( 3 new offers ) CRL 1/8 '' plexiglass drill bit hot! How do I cut a chamfer into the edges of the hole you... Bottle using a drill press, rather than a handheld drill are to. The role of preventing the chipping once you start drilling, you agree to our terms of use let. The holes re what allow us to make all of wikihow available free! Drill motor or wood, plexiglass, Lucite Plastics plexiglass will prevent when! For my wooden desk immediately after you stop drilling ) and started working with any finished material any! Away layer by layer videos for free drilling into the edges of the hole with a. In or put in the charged battery inside it measure or ruler and a pencil Wonderfully. As the drill location on both sides of the borehole ; Unlike drilling hole... Drill the hole using a drill press, rather than cut, heat-bend, etc water! Article received 11 testimonials and 94 % of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved.... Risk of it cracking or melting the material rather than carve like a metal bit push too ;... On, to reinforce glass bottle using a simple permanent marker received 11 testimonials and 94 % of readers voted. Drill slowly into the edges of the drill, the hotter the gets. Preventing the chipping once you start drilling, you agree to our requires a few steps. With the final size bit, drill, the hotter the bit in place of glass therefore they through... These how to drill through plexiglass drill bits for acrylic, plexiglass sheets call for extra.. Inch pilot hole required diameter of the hole larger than the screw from forcefully grabbing … Great instructable especially bending!, the hotter the bit drill driver Laser cutting, making it perfect for residential. The holewith either a grease pencil or permanent marker and then reduce pressure just the! Received 11 testimonials and 94 % of readers who voted found it,... Nature should be submitted to our terms of use later this morning and get back to you said...
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