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Permalink Reply by John Austin on January 6, 2014 at 2:16pm

FWIW, for the smaller bits (#40, #30), I never bothered to get "acrylic" bits ... just used old, dull bits or dulled them further by drilling into steel, etc. They're so small, never had one crack acrylic. For the larger bits, however, I would definitely go with true "acrylic" bits so as not to crack it. Don't remember if I ever bought a #11 - perhaps bought a 3/16" which is a smidge undersize to #11. I "think" I bought that from a hobby supply or Ebay.

John

N750A

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Permalink Reply by Gerald on January 6, 2014 at 4:01pm

Thanks John

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Permalink Reply by Walt Snyder on January 6, 2014 at 5:42pm

Gerald, another alternative that builders use is a step drill bit. I like them because you can put a chamfer on the hole.

Walt

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Permalink Reply by Daniel C Hall on January 6, 2014 at 6:02pm

McMaster Carr or Tap Plastics

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on January 6, 2014 at 6:31pm

Supposedly you can use a regular bit if you run the drill backwards, let the bit melt through the plastic with friction rather than cut/chip its way through rotating the correct way. I have done this on junk plastic when making non-metallic tools out of it, I have never used it to drill something "real" like a conopy. It seemed to work fine drilling the stuff I did not care about.

I have used stepdrills to put holes in plexiglas -- works very nicely, makes a clean hole.

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