akpilot

Quick question . . .

Does anyone have a sure-fire way of drilling through ABS, so it doesn't crack?

I'm mounting a cowl and just want to ensure I don't screw it up in the process. Having said that, I just don't want to screw up any ABS for that matter.

Tks

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

ABS is pretty soft (ie, not brittle). I have never cracked one while drilling. (Now flying is a different matter)

akpilot

I agree it's pretty soft, however being the person that I am - I've managed to crack some once or twice.

From my thoughts, I think if I was to dremel through first and gradually allow the bits to get bigger I might be safe.

. . . any thoughts from anyone?

AndyF

My Feedback: (2)

AKpilot,

You could use a hot soldering iron with a sharp point, back it up with a piece of wood and stop when you have the right size hole.

You may want to pull the tip, put it in a gun drill and sharpen it on a gridning wheel.

Andy

ProfLooney

I use brass tube heated over the stove but have also run an old exacto blade on the inside edge of it to sharpen it and used it as a punch.

Joe

Crash_N_Burn

I've had some success using a fly cutter with certain ABS parts.

I glue a scrap piece of lite ply where the drill bit would enter and proceed slowly.

As you can imagine, this only works with relatively flat parts. A hole cutter will also work with some slightly uneven parts, but unlike the fly cutter, you have to have the right size.

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

I use this method, and it has been pretty much
shure-fire.....cut a 3/4 length off some 1" wing
tape. Thin CA the tape on the back side of the
piece to be drilled..Then drill away. The hole
should be drilled just slightly larger than the
screw. This will avoid "pressure", that leads to
the cracking later on.

Has never failed.

Dave.

akpilot

Thanks for the input . . .

. . . I'll give it a go this weekend and see how I do.