Drilling hole in painted surface (dash)

[Clem Smith]

How do you drill a hole in painted 8N dash to mount light switch, without messing up the nice red paint around it?

Small increment bit changes?
Masking tape over area? Both sides?

Who has old tricks for drilling painted surfaces?

thanks, Clem

 

[souNdguy]

yep.. small pilot hole then larger hole.. or stepped bits if you have them.

masking take works darn good.

remember the switch will have a small bezel or retainer ring too...that helps cover minor imperfections right at the hole edge..

soundguy

 

[jb9959]

Use a center punch to mark the spot before you drill the first small hole.

JB9959

 

[showcrop]

After you drill the hole paint the bare edge to keep rust from creeping under the paint.

 

[Dell (WA)]

Clem.......1/8"-pilot hole works fer me. I have some 1/8"-rubber hoze that I cut a chunk off'n and put that over the drill bitt so when it goes thru the sheetmetal, it only goes about 1/8"-1/4" and the rubber hose stops the drill from going deeper. Prevents drilling thru electrical wires, and other stuff, eh? The SHARP drillbit of appropriate size fer shank of switch. Good tip on repainting the edge of the bare sheetmetal. Think wifes fingernail polish, don't worry about matching color. Drys in 15-mins. ......Dell with purdy nails

 

[Clem Smith]

Thanks

My 52 8N has the dimple where the switch hole goes.

I'm going in...

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dell,
Sometime ago I found a NEC monitor at a yard sale. $1.00 cheap.

I took the monitor apart and after getting the plastic case off I found the whole insides was covered with a perforated stainless steel case.
Excellent for body repairs on the Ford service van.

After cutting out the rusted metal with my 4 in. abrasive disk grinder, I was instructed to paint the edges of the old metal before attaching the stainless steel with countersunk rivits.

The stainless is excellent for forming the "curves" and the perforations work extremely well for holding the "BONDO".

GOOD idea to paint the edges of drilled holes.

Those Chinese manicurists have great deals for lacquer colors. Good for touch ups from stone nicks, etc.

John

 

[lha]

Most of the trouble you'll have is from the bit "walking",which can be solved with a center punch,followed by a series of 3-4 bits,ending in your final size. Also saves wear on bits.Tape will help in preventing the paint from chipping.---lha

 

[soqueu]

get a 3/8" dewalt steel cutting bit and go real slow so that the cutting edge will dig in and draw the curly metal as it slowly eats thru the metal. If you go to fast it will not cut properly.

 

[souNdguy]

should be fine

soundguy