Hi

I need to drill two M10 holes in my nose cone for the indicators. I know an M10 washer fitted in the recess of the nose cone will be show the perfect place to drill.

My drilling ability is pretty dire and wonderedi f anyone had any tips as to how to drill in the middle of the hole in the washer so when i fit the indicators they'll be exactly where i want them.

i was planing on using a cone drill but if I start off centre it'll end in tears

Any tips appreciated so I can cross another job off the to do list, plus I want to see what they look like fitted

Thanks all

Mark and drill a small pilot hole first.

That should make it easier to get an accurate 10mm hole.

stu

Gotta agree with Stu. Drill small first, say 2mm or less then slowly enlarge until you get up to 10mm diameter.

I'd go up in maybe 4 steps; 1.6mm/4mm/7mm then 10mm.

The more accurate you want the result the more drill sizes and the smaller the step up at each drilling. Yes it'll take a bit longer but it'll be worth it

And tape over where you are planning to drill, then drill very gently from the gelcoat side once you have your pilot hole (smallest drill bit you have!!) to (hopefully!!) prevent the gelcoat from chipping.

i think the question was ....

I've got to drill a 10mm hole, i can mark where the hole needs to be, how do i find the centre to start off the pilot hole.

(or i'm a completel muppet and completely miss understood)

Drill increasing size holes, when you get near one edge break out the needle files. Fibreglass is easy to file through.

MikeR that was how i read it. No problem with the drilling, just the location itself...

I guess the old saying 'measure twice, cut once' springs to mind!

How square/true is the nosecone? There is no point spending hours checking your measurements if the datum you are using are different on the two sides!

What I would so is glue together say 3 10mm washers to act as a jig. Then first use the 10mm drill bit contrary to the above. Just drill enough to put a mark in the centre of the hole. Then go for a 4mm drill using the mark to in the centre to stop it wandering. Then back to your 10mm to finish off.

Steve

Either

a) measure twice, cut once

or

b) measure, cut, discard, repeat



Bit of masking tape on the fglassfibre stops the drill slipping nicely.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
i think the question was ....

I've got to drill a 10mm hole, i can mark where the hole needs to be, how do i find the centre to start off the pilot hole.

(or i'm a completel muppet and completely miss understood)

---

Fix the big 10mm washer in place with masking tape.
Then fit a smaller washer inside the big one.
Mark centre of small hole.
Drill pilot hole.
Job done. HTH

use an axe.

quote:

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Originally posted by JoelP
use an axe.

---

i used a forstner bit they are brilliant for fibreglass.

Don't worry if it's a bit out, 5mm is not going to be noticed with the naked eye. Just look at Tiger wheel arches

many thanks all for the tips, my oroginal question probably wasn't very clear.

It was a combination of accuratley gauging the centre of the washer hole combined with my inabilty to drill well so all your posts provided me with some information.

Well must go and get my axe now to get my holes drilled

Thanks again

Buy youself a set of transfer punches from somewhere like J&L. Makes a job like this a cinch, and you'll soon wonder how you did without them.
http://www.jlindustrial.co.uk/IMP-75780J/SEARCH:KEYWORD/product.html

If you're drilling fibreglass, make sure the bit isn't too sharp - it may snag and shatter the gelcoat around the hole. Likewise, I'd use the 10mm from the start, not using too much pressure and have the drill going fast.
Trying to enlarge a small hole in fibreglass is fraught with danger!!



(Guess how I know!!!)