formica holes

[Harry Goodwin]

We have about 30 holes to put in drawers for locks. They are 21/32nds and have laminant face. Any suggestions for a nice entrance hole in laminant? Harry

[David Cramer]

A sharp forstner bit or even a spade bit, but put down masking tape before you make the cut. If you can keep'er steady, a forstner bit will give you a great cut. Use a 120 or higher sandpaper to take the sharp edge off the the bit will leave behind. Again, a sharp spade will work, but it must be sharp and be going into tape to make sure you don't have chip out on the edges. Good luck!

Dave

[Harry Goodwin]

Thanks for the help. Harry

[David Cramer]

No problem Harry, and please let me know how it works out. Either through a pm or the boards. Again, good luck and I'm sure it'll go smoothly. Keep a lot of downward pressure on that drill if you're using a forstner bit. At least until it reams out the 1/16 laminate. Then you're home free!

Dave

[Jamie Buxton]

In my unhappy experience, drill bits skitter around on formica. To do your job, I'd use a plunge router with a template guide. The template would just have a circular hole in it. It'd also have fingers hooking over two edges of the drawer front, so the bored holes would be in the same place on all 30 drawers.

[Paul Kinneberg]

I just made a down draft table with over a 100 3/4" inch holes in the way Dave described with the blue masking tape and being carful I didn't have any issues. I have never tried plunging them but suspect it would work as well if not better.

[David Cramer]

Your method is a "great suggestion" Jamie.

Along those same lines of making a jig to plunge the holes with a router, one could be made to be clamped to the drawer face and therefore keep the forstner bit steady/straight if drilling by hand. Either will work, I guess it just depends on ones personal tool arsenal.

I have drill so many 1 3/8" holes in the last 10 years using just a cordless drill, that it was the first thing to pop in my mind. I just do it so quick and so often, that I guess I don't even think about it. Thanks for adding your suggestion to the mix.

Dave

[Jeff Weight]

If you use a center punch, you should be fine. :)

[Steve Clardy]

Sharp spade bit, which can be ground down to the size you need, or forestor bit.