[rebel-builders] drilling fiberglass

[Kelly M. Ewing]

Thanks Ralph, I'm going to get a new bit and try that. ( Along with the backing)

Kelly
kelly@tru-form.ca
Enjoy your day !


-----Original Message-----
From: "Ralph Baker" <rebaker@sc.rr.com>
Sender: <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:49:53
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Reply-To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Subject: [rebel-builders] drilling fiberglass

Kelly,
I have had good success using standard drills. The glass does dull them rather quickly however. Be sure to back up the work to minimize splintering out the back.
Ralph Baker



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[Ron Shannon]

I've used both regular bits and those specially made for Plexiglas and
acrylics, and my experience was the special bits make a much cleaner hole.
They are not hugely expensive (see
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/m ... idrill.php) -- with some
care, just one will suffice for all the composites & plastics in the plane
-- and IMHO they are a good investment in longevity of the plane. You will
definitely want to use the special bits when drilling the polycarbonate
(Lexan) windows.

If you do use regular bits, two things will help. First is to lightly grind
the drill's cutting flutes at the outer edges, where the cutting flutes meet
the shank, which dulls the cutting action at the outer diameter of the hole.
Taping top and bottom surfaces will also help. Of course, don't forget to
drill the holes slightly oversize (5/32" hole for 1/8" rivets) to
accommodate differential thermal expansion rates.

Ron
254R




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[Kelly M. Ewing]

Thanks Ron, I may try the special bit, it will be worth it in the long run.

Kelly
kelly@tru-form.ca
Enjoy your day !


-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Shannon <rshannon@cruzcom.com>
Sender: <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:42:34
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Reply-To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] drilling fiberglass

I've used both regular bits and those specially made for Plexiglas and
acrylics, and my experience was the special bits make a much cleaner hole.
They are not hugely expensive (see
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/m ... idrill.php) -- with some
care, just one will suffice for all the composites & plastics in the plane
-- and IMHO they are a good investment in longevity of the plane. You will
definitely want to use the special bits when drilling the polycarbonate
(Lexan) windows.

If you do use regular bits, two things will help. First is to lightly grind
the drill's cutting flutes at the outer edges, where the cutting flutes meet
the shank, which dulls the cutting action at the outer diameter of the hole.
Taping top and bottom surfaces will also help. Of course, don't forget to
drill the holes slightly oversize (5/32" hole for 1/8" rivets) to
accommodate differential thermal expansion rates.

Ron
254R




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