Drill advice for amac boxes

[Kingkidd801]

I was going to buy a cheap 20-30 dollar dremel tool for amac boxes, but I've been reading they can produce heat and melt the acrylic/plastic. I've read that maybe a pin vice might be the better option, but even they might create heat first and take longer to drill. I would like to keep the boxes as clean and presentable as possible. It might not matter as much for the amac boxes, but if I decide to do my own acrylic/plastic boxes for adults I'd like to know I already have something that works. Honestly I don't use power tools at all, so I don't know many terms at all. If you have suggestions I'd appreciate it, links would even be better. Thanks!

 

[Lord Inix]

use scissors

 

[Introvertebrate]

You might look into a variable speed rotary tool. Lower speed settings would help prevent melting.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Forget the rotary tool, I've used 3 and they all just melt the plastics even on the lowest speeds with different bits. There's too much surface area and friction. If you don't mind melted blobs, use a soldering iron.

Use a power drill with a drill bit for metals and plastics. Drill pilot holes at low speed and then go over them with a larger bit to clean it up. I can drill several hundred holes perfectly in half an hour or so like this, 0 cracking, 0 melting.

 

[Smotzer]

Agree with the above, I used a dreamel with a bit in the beginning but have found much better outcome with just my old drill and the bit!

 

[SpookySpooder]

Honestly I don't use power tools at all, so I don't know many terms at all. If you have suggestions I'd appreciate it, links would even be better.

Do you have access to a power drill? Maybe your dad, a friend, or neighbor?

Unfortunately, even the cheapest ones at Harbor Freight will run you at least $50. Various drill bits or a set would easily push that up to $80-100 total. Gawd forbid you buy a compact drill set from BigBoxHardware, that'll cost $250+

I will post a quick pictorial for you on how I drill when I get home tonight.

 

[Kingkidd801]

Do you have access to a power drill? Maybe your dad, a friend, or neighbor?

Unfortunately, even the cheapest ones at Harbor Freight will run you at least $50. Various drill bits or a set would easily push that up to $80-100 total. Gawd forbid you buy a compact drill set from BigBoxHardware, that'll cost $250+

I will post a quick pictorial for you on how I drill when I get home tonight.

I guess I should say I don't use power tools much. I do have a DeWALT 18v xrp that I bought used. Not sure if that one is too fast? I figured it would be. Is their bits you would recommend that work better than others?

I would appreciate that a ton! Thank you!

 

[Kingkidd801]

Drill pilot holes at low speed and then go over them with a larger bit to clean it up. I can drill several hundred holes perfectly in half an hour or so like this, 0 cracking, 0 melting.

This sounds perfect!

 

[SpookySpooder]

That's fine. If anything it'll have too much torque but I'm sure you can adjust that setting by twisting the knob with the numbers on the drill.

There are specific bits for drilling acrylics and polycarbonate, but they are quite pricey. ($20-50 per bit!)

So I use very basic bits for drilling metals and they handle hard plastics like acrylic very well.

Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty Titanium Drill Bit Set (15-Piece) 48-89-4670 - The Home Depot

The MILWAUKEE® SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty™ 15PC RED HELIX™ Titanium Drill Bit Set is engineered for extreme durability and long life. The QUAD EDGE™ tip delivers a precision start and features four cutting

www.homedepot.com

I have the bigger box set with all the sizes you can imagine. You don't need to get that one though. Anything similar will work as you're just drilling acrylic.

Smaller is better. I find 1/32th is great for making the pilot holes at high speed without melting or cracking and then a wider bit like 1/16th or 1/8th will widen and clean up the hole.

If you just want specific bits, peruse here

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[viper69]

I was going to buy a cheap 20-30 dollar dremel tool for amac boxes, but I've been reading they can produce heat and melt the acrylic/plastic. I've read that maybe a pin vice might be the better option, but even they might create heat first and take longer to drill. I would like to keep the boxes as clean and presentable as possible. It might not matter as much for the amac boxes, but if I decide to do my own acrylic/plastic boxes for adults I'd like to know I already have something that works. Honestly I don't use power tools at all, so I don't know many terms at all. If you have suggestions I'd appreciate it, links would even be better. Thanks!

I drill all the time for AMAC, and I've posted about this a while back in detail, type of drill bits, what to look for when you drill to know if you are doing it properly. All found by googling actually,

 

[BoyFromLA]

If you don't mind melted blobs, use a soldering iron.

And fume.

 

[SpookySpooder]

And fume.

I inhale toxic fumes for fun. It makes me stronger.

Honestly that's why I prefer the drill. Though when working with softer plastics, drill bits are not good, so soldering irons work better there.

*Remember to wear PPE and ventilate if you are producing fumes*

This sounds perfect!

Kinda sloppy because I'm tired and did this in like 3 minutes, but this should give you an idea of how easy it is.

1. Set up your tools, materials, and work area



Your drill should have a knob on it that will allow you to adjust the torque and speed. Set it to the icon of a drill and not the nail.

2. Measure and mark your layout. I made a stencil because it saves me time and sanity trying to space things evenly. You can skip this and just drill randomly if you don't have OCD.


REMEMBER TO HOLD YOUR DRILL AT A RIGHT ANGLE! Any slant or deviation will cause your holes to also be slanted.

3. Drill pilot holes at high torque and low speed with the smallest drill bit you have. I used 3/32.

Let the weight of the drill do the work. DO NOT PUSH!

It is very easy to crack acrylic before the bit has time to dig into the material. I cracked a few before I found the perfect pressure to produce long wispy burrs.

This is how it should look if you used the right amount of pressure.

Too much pressure = you will crack the acrylic
Not enough pressure = you won't drill anything

Use the weight of the drill and lightly press until you see the bit producing what I showed you.

4. Widen the holes with the next size up if you feel like it. You can go full speed with this bit without any risk of cracking. At this point I just go HAM and drill at max speed.

Hope this helps. If I had more time and energy I'd have recorded it for you.

 

[RoachCoach]

God rest you guy's souls that have to drill all these holes for slings. You lucky bastards with tons of slings.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I drill all mine too. I found the acrylic drill bits didn’t do it much smoother than any other good quality drill bit.

 

[Kingkidd801]

I drill all the time for AMAC, and I've posted about this a while back in detail, type of drill bits, what to look for when you drill to know if you are doing it properly. All found by googling actually,

I can't find what post you may be referring too. It may have been one of your posts that made me second guess the dremel though.

 

[Kingkidd801]

I drill all mine too. I found the acrylic drill bits didn’t do it much smoother than any other good quality drill bit.

Thanks for the heads up. I had the more expensive bits in my cart. Trying to keep the appearance clean as possible.

 

[viper69]

I can't find what post you may be referring too. It may have been one of your posts that made me second guess the dremel though.

It should be there, as I said the info I found was via google.

 

[Kingkidd801]

Hope this helps. If I had more time and energy I'd have recorded it for you.

This was beyond enough and super helpful! The stencil is a great idea. I'm still looking at posts with different patterns for the best cross ventilation. I think I'll be using rubber bands and a measuring tape for the first three. When I order a new shipment of slings I may want the process to go faster for then.

I'll report back with how it goes. My local container store was out of the clear acrylic, but I was told a new shipment should be in today. Thanks again, I appreciate the help and walk-through.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Craftsman drill. Dewalt drill bit.

 

[The Snark]

Perfect holes every time: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/brad-point-drill-bits/
Never use wedges, ordinary drill bits that have to be forced through the material. Best it to use wood type brad points in a battery powered variable speed drill and coolant, or even submerge the material in water.