Saw a photo on here where somebody was using a squirrel to chew rustic looking sound holes.Believe their charges are very reasonable,they'll work for peanuts SORRY!!!
Bill Powell > Michael Fred JohnsonApril 23, 2013 at 10:03am
A 12 gauge would be just about right for the 3/4-inch grommet style, 20 gauge for 5/8.
To avoid tearout with a hole saw or a Forstner bit in wood, I like to drill a tiny pilot hole - 1/16 or 5/32 - where the center of the hole will be. Then I can line up the Forstner or hole saw to drill halfway through from one side, then halfway from the other. The hole edges end up clean on both sides.
When I get around to cutting holes in a cookie tin, I'll probably use a drill, tin snips, and files to clean it up. For a larger hole, you could drill a bunch of small holes outlining the larger shape, then snip between them, and clean up the rough edges. Or leave the rough edges if you like them.
Forstner bit is the first choice, next best would be a hole saw that you put in your drill(like the ones for putting locksets in doors), then maybe a dremel tool with a router attachment and a spiral cut bit. As Mark said, I wouldn't use a spade type hole boring bit because there is too much chance of tearing the box to bits or at the least you'll end up with an elongated, non-circular hole. If you're using a hand drill, the hole saw is the best choice in my opinion. One like this:
I have a drill press, and I use a rather cheap hole saw set I got from Harbor Freight for only four bucks. Seems to work great.
Forstner bits are a bit pricey in larger sizes, but they do cut nice, clean holes.
I would not recommend the typical spade-type woodworking bits for thin material; my first attempt to do so resulted in some really ragged holes.
Replies
Hadn't seen Dave Lynas's current photos when I wrote the previous reply.Had only seen the squirrels at work
Saw a photo on here where somebody was using a squirrel to chew rustic looking sound holes.Believe their charges are very reasonable,they'll work for peanuts SORRY!!!
A 12 gauge would be just about right for the 3/4-inch grommet style, 20 gauge for 5/8.
:-D
OOOh!! For that rustic look!! :-)
;-)
When I get around to cutting holes in a cookie tin, I'll probably use a drill, tin snips, and files to clean it up. For a larger hole, you could drill a bunch of small holes outlining the larger shape, then snip between them, and clean up the rough edges. Or leave the rough edges if you like them.
Old thread but it answered my questions. Thanks gentlefolk.
Forstner bits are a bit pricey in larger sizes, but they do cut nice, clean holes.
I would not recommend the typical spade-type woodworking bits for thin material; my first attempt to do so resulted in some really ragged holes.
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