enlarging 3/4" hole to 1 1/2" in clay pot

[Don Morris]

I helped a neighbor put a 3/4" hole in the bottom of a decorative clay pot for her fish pond. She enlarged the fish pond and now needs the the hole enlarged for a greater amount of water throughput to 1 1/2". I have a 1 1/2" hole saw, but centering it over the already drilled hole is easier said than done. Suggestions? Put a thin piece of wood over the hole and go through that? Put the wood on the inside (I can adjust how far the drill bit sticks out)? I'm sure some of you have had this dilemma before. I'm sure after I've broken the pot when I get done, someone will tell me "Oh, you just.... Thanks for any ideas people.

[glenn bradley]

Oops Arbor? http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/HS-0019/Starrett-quotOOPSquot-Arbor

[Lee Schierer]

Take your 1" hole saw and cut a hole through a piece of 2 x 4. Remove the core from the hole saw and test fit it in the 3/4" hole. (you may need two cores) You might need to sand it down some to fit. Once it fits in the 3/4" hole slip the plug onto your 1-1/2" hole saw pilot bit, put the plug in the 3/4" hole and start drilling your 1-1/2" hole.

[Matt Meiser]

Drill 3 more 3/4" holes to get the same area.

(0.75/2)^2 * 3.14 = .44 sq in.
(1.5/2)^2 * 3.14 = 1.76 sq in.

Better, drill 2 of them and let her try it before doing the 3rd so you don't have to ask us how to fill a hole in a clay pot. :)

[David Nelson1]

Glenn that Ooop hole saw adapter looks like the cats meow for his fix and a bunch of my old mistakes.

[Don Morris]

I've got to have that Ooops adaptor for future problems because I know they'll happen. Thanks for the heads up!

[John Coloccia]

Drill 3 more 3/4" holes to get the same area.

(0.75/2)^2 * 3.14 = .44 sq in.
(1.5/2)^2 * 3.14 = 1.76 sq in.

Better, drill 2 of them and let her try it before doing the 3rd so you don't have to ask us how to fill a hole in a clay pot. :)

This was precisely my first thought.

[george wilson]

The SLOWER you can rotate the hole saw,the less you will ruin it.Have a hand brace? I've enlarged arbor holes through grinding wheels by running a lathe at the slowest back geared speed and just using a HSS drill. Preferably not my best HSS drill,as it MIGHT get a little tapered from this operation. It does work,though,and was the older recommended way to drill a grinding wheel. Your problem sounds similar.

[Mike Henderson]

Oops Arbor? http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/HS-0019/Starrett-quotOOPSquot-Arbor

That is such a neat idea! What I've done in the past is fill the hole with a plug (glued) and then re-drill.

Mike

[scott vroom]

Use a RotoZip spiral saw with a ceramic tile bit.....eazy-peazy.

[Floyd Mah]

Take a piece of plywood bigger than the pot and drill the 1-1/2" hole in it with the hole saw. Screw or nail some guides on the plywood to keep the pot from wandering after you have centered the new hole over the old hole. You can also use carpet tape to hold it in place. Then drill the new hole using the plywood as a guide to keep the larger bit from wandering. You are controlling the position of the new hole from the outside instead of the pilot drill.

[mreza Salav]

What Floyd said. That's how I always enlarge a hole.

[Trevor Howard]

My thoughts are similar to Floyd, but sandwich the pot between two pieces of plywood, then drill the 1 1/2" hole through all three.

[Perry Holbrook]

If you or a neighbor has a sandblaster, they blast holes of any size and shape in clay pots in about 15 seconds.

Perry

[Dan Hahr]

Do you have a 3/4 hole saw? You could maybe mount the 3/4 inside the 1 1/2 and use it to center the larger? Not sure if you can find one that little. Once started, remove the smaller.
Dan

[Don Morris]

Did pretty much what Floyd said to do with a 1 1/2" hole saw through some plywood that I attached to the pot. Went slow. took forever it seemed, but worked. Still, like the Rotozip idea with a ceramic bit. Bet that would have been faster. Maybe next time. Thanks to all for the ideas.

[michael veach]

Do you have a 3/4 hole saw? You could maybe mount the 3/4 inside the 1 1/2 and use it to center the larger? Not sure if you can find one that little. Once started, remove the smaller.
Dan
I used this technique to enlarge a hole in a computer desk and it worked perfect.

[Byron Trantham]

Drill 3 more 3/4" holes to get the same area.

(0.75/2)^2 * 3.14 = .44 sq in.
(1.5/2)^2 * 3.14 = 1.76 sq in.

Better, drill 2 of them and let her try it before doing the 3rd so you don't have to ask us how to fill a hole in a clay pot. :)

Can we say say "Think ouside the box?!" Good one...

[Bo McCorkle]

Indicate on the drill press and redrill:) a cheap test indicator will do for woodwork and is extremely handy. I brought one home on a whim and now its in my drill stand.