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Drilling into a painted body
We would like to install side curtain ferrules in the doors.
With three coats of clear, is there a techique that could reduce the likelihood of chipping the paint when drilling? Any suggestions....... Thanks, Bill |
Drilling Fiberglass
When I drill on my boat. Put tape over the area. I also use a very sharp drill, many like to use tapered drills that expand the hole as you drill, others start with small pilot holes and then graduate to larger drills. Best is to practice on a gelcoated fiberglass panel first before you try it on your car. Also make sure the selftapers going into the holes do not crack the glass. Again best to practice on a panel before the car.
Have fun |
Hi FakeSnake,
Side curtain ferrules are a fairly large diameter if I recall correctly. Like .450>.600. If yours are this size, do not use a drill bit. You will not be happy with the hole produced by a standard 2 flute drill bit in your body. (It will be ugly and not at all round. It will be a triangle.) Use a Snap-on, Starrett, or other high quality brand very fine tooth hole saw. (Make sure that the tooth offset is small, not large like the Harbor Freight type brands. The big tooth offset is fine if you are drilling holes in your wall for pipes, etc.) Then go slow with drill motor speed, take your time. Saving time drilling the holes now, will just let you spend more time fixing the clear coat later. Tape the area with masking tape as well. Remove tape by pulling at a very acute angle, almost back on itself. This will minimize pull up on the clear coat. Hope this helps. |
Ooooops!
I musta misread the title of this thread......damn! Oh well, it's got good info anyway...:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
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Here's some really good advice:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then go slow with drill motor speed, take your time. Saving time drilling the holes now, will just let you spend more time fixing the clear coat later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Slow, slow, slow ! Haste makes cracks! Doh! :CRY: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fred, down, boy! That's a good lad...here's your 80 proof treat! :3DSMILE: |
Bill,
One thing to add to Richard's excellent advice is to practice on a piece of fiberglass or something similar..... It helps to have some confidence in these types of jobs. Good luck:) |
Drilling reverse
Switch the drill to reverse and drill. To be safe put tape over the area; with this method it really doesn't matter if there is tape. It's that simple!
perry |
Thanks all for the help!
Richard H.: Started to read the JBL Motorsports replica build out by the inimitable Andy "The Butcher" when I realized I may be 6 months older before reading it thru and thru. The Butcher's website is truly an astounding work of art that is a must read every Cobra enthusiast. |
Fake- Great tips above. Use all the ideas above but also include drilling wet. Use a small amount of water when drilling slow. This will aid in keeping the surface temp down as well as providing a lubrication. Its the heat that will cause the fresh paint to peel.
Shannon |
Wise words that I have tried to live by, "Measure twice, cut once". In this case "Measure twice before starting to drill", take your time since an error here could spell disaster.
Wayne |
What about tips for drilling through a freshly painted steel body?
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Drilling through a freshly painted metal body is similar.
Drill backwards thru the paint so it does not chip. Once the bit is thru the paint click the drill the the correct position and drill slowly so you don't burn the paint. If you burn the paint you will need to expect a burn size of a nickel. |
Safest way....
Take it to the shop that did the body and paint. Let them do it. It works for me. If they mess it up they fixit. Mike |
MIKIEC,
IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, THE GENTALMEN ARE DOING THE PAINT THEM SELVES. IF THEY HAPPEN TO MAKE A MISTAKE, I WILL LET THEM ALSO KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HAVE A GOOD ONE:) |
I would take it back to him to do the drilling, but the response would be the same one he gave me when I picked the car up from the paint shop, "You didn't tell me you wanted to put emblems on both sides of the car" (don't get me started on how upset I am with the paintjob) Now I need to drill some holes to mount the emblems on the side, and I am afraid of destroying a noticable area of paint. I am not a body work kind of mechanic, so I am completely ignorant of every tip and trick used at bodyshops.
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That's what double sided tape is for.
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Mr. Fixit
Don't drill holes. Grind or cut off the tabs from the back of the emblem and use double sided tape. Thats the way most of the emblems on cars today are put on. John W. |
When drilling into a fiberglass body with fresh paint or not, The best solution is to use a brad point bit. These are used in woodworking and they have outer spurs that score (cut a scoring mark in the outside diameter of the hole before the bit begins to clean out the center). Be careful there are some cheap brad point bits that don't work very well. Look for a good quality bit from a woodwork supply place. Don't confuse the brad point bit, which is round and has spiral flutes similar to a steel drilling bit, with a spade type bit which is flat but also has the scoring spurs on the outside diameter. Try the site below. Go to "Drilling" then "Drill Bits". You will se an explanation on brad point bits.
Paul http://www.leevalley.com/wood/index....D=&ccurrency=2 |
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