Hole Saws for Fibreglass ?
Hey all,
Just wondering what you guys have used for hole saws through fibreglass
I've got a few new gauges & speakers to install, and need to drill holes from 50mm to 150mm through fibreglass and FG / Acryllic where I've had some panels made up to recover the old hole layout.
Not a lot of big hole saws around anyway, but it seems most have a really agressive saw tooth pattern, and I'm concerned something like that is going to rip the shit out of my new work !
I've got proper grit-style jigsaw blades for FG, but (apart from it being a rough compromise for doing the job) I won't be able to get the right access using my jigsaw.
Anyone around got the right gear to do it right ?
Thought it might be best to mark up where they have to be drilled and get someone to drill them for me.
Advice appreciated !
Regards,
Dizz.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
run it in reverse
if you drill in reverse until you reach the fibers your gel coat should be fine
Dizzy
Posts: 753
Date Joined: 21/02/11
Ahhh, great idea -
Ahhh, great idea - thanks.
Now just got to get hold of a 150mm hole saw.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
Bunnings
Maybe, look for the ones sparkies use for down lights or maybe electrical wholesalers
nico
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 17/08/10
holes away
lay masking tape down over the area to be cut mark out the pattern put the saw in reverse as suggested or use a jigsaw with a fine blade eg metal blade.
In Mocean
Dizzy
Posts: 753
Date Joined: 21/02/11
Thanks. Bunnings didn't have
Thanks.
Bunnings didn't have anything over 75mm - and they looked dodgey cheap as hell.
Will check out a proper tool shop.
Might even call a car stereo mob and see if they can do it.
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
go see tradsmen technolagys
go see tradsmen technolagys in malaga
they sell good quild cheap chinese hole saws
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
I've seen them in bunnings
propper ones...dont look for the cheap kits with slot in black blades a propper hole saw with arbour will cost about 50 or 60 bucks
but the electrical wholesalers will have what you need.
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
the other option is a tile hole saw.
diamond grit, never go blunt, but pricey. Most cutting tools for fibreglass use diamond wheels or blades of sorts.
"Its a life style job"
sjking
Posts: 39
Date Joined: 06/07/11
Used a Dremel
Last time I did a job like that,
I used a Dremel with a really nice little angle grinder style cutting disk, made the outline with a compass and then just slow and steady.
Of course nearly fumed myself to death cutting into fibreglass.
sjking
Posts: 39
Date Joined: 06/07/11
Because I couldn't find a 150mm holesaw
Should note this was specifically because I couldn't find a big holesaw I trusted.
Biggest 'proper' one I saw was about 4"/100mm although some of the sparkie sorts use some massive others for gyprock, things like ceiling fans.
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Might pay to drill a bit from
Might pay to drill a bit from the front then a bit from the back too so you don't splinter out all the fibreglass. That's if you can access from both sides?
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Also, another option if you
Also, another option if you can't find a big enough hole saw is to mark out your large hole then drill a series of smaller holes on the inside of it then file out the rest? Might be a bit cheaper than buying a big holesaw? Sparkies kit will get you 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm and 50mm I think? Blumole and Starret are pretty good brands. Probably set you back about $120 - $160? Good luck.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
sea-kem
Posts: 15028
Date Joined: 30/11/09
You need to use a blunt drill
You need to use a blunt drill for acrylics etc. Probably the same for fibreglass. Try ringing a hire place for a hole saw. If you try to buy one you'll be looking at around $80 or more.Like someone said a dremmel with a sharp compass bit and just a bit of patience.
Love the West!
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
dealer
probably cheaper to book into a dealer and get them to cut it out they would have all the right sizes and should only charge you about an hours labour if you mark out the holes for them
stilly
Posts: 341
Date Joined: 10/08/09
mate
go nuts mask up wherever you are cutting and you will be fine really not that hard to do just watch you dont snap your drill bit and bounce your holesaw up the dash/gunnel, from memory repco/coventrys i think? did p'n'n holesaws relatively cheap and last forever
Dizzy
Posts: 753
Date Joined: 21/02/11
Thanks for the advice all. A
Thanks for the advice all.
A kind member of the forum has offered the use of his hole saws, so pretty much sorted !
A big Thanks to "R" :)