How to cut a hole in a plastic bucket

Cully · Post by **Cully** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:45 pm

What drill bit would I use to make a 21 mm hole please?

sbond10 · Post by **sbond10** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:50 pm

As it's plastic I used a 21mm wood saw bit went thru in seconds

chris2012 · Post by **chris2012** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:55 pm

I just used a q-max hole punch, but that could be overkill.

gobuchul · Post by **gobuchul** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:56 pm

I have used a wood "spade" drill bit and a Sterrett type hole saw.

Both went through no problems, but the holesaw gave a much neater cut.

I would recommend getting a 21mm holesaw. Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/H-S-S-cutting-p ... B007FRZESO

Post by **themadhippy** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:15 pm

Dont go 21mm go 20mm to allow for wobbly drill syndrome,also take it easy some plastic tends to crack if you apply to much pressure.

chris2012 · Post by **chris2012** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:17 pm

I'll had with the hole-punch it cuts through plastic like butter, and made a perfect cut, but they are like a tenner by the looks of it, on amazon

MTW · Post by **MTW** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:21 pm

I wrecked a bucket with a spade type bit.

Ended up drilling three smaller holes and cutting/filing the rest out. Was a neat job in the end, but sounds like a whole punch would be good. I've used a borrowed one on steel and could have nearly bought the b%gger for the cost of the bucket.

Clibit · Post by **Clibit** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:40 pm

I used an apple corer last week, heated in a flame. Was just the right size for the black tap (came off an Igloo cooler) I was fitting, worked a treat.

GAZ9053 · Post by **GAZ9053** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:44 pm

HSS hole saw,

Cully · Post by **Cully** » Mon May 11, 2015 11:18 pm

Cheers people. Looks like the 1p one from Amazon then

simon12 · Post by **simon12** » Tue May 12, 2015 11:45 am

If you have not done it before I recommend you do a few practise drills on the lid or something. At least I wish I had.

Cully · Post by **Cully** » Tue May 12, 2015 3:40 pm

Good advice, will do that. Cheers.

Hogarth · Post by **Hogarth** » Tue May 12, 2015 9:19 pm

I've always put a piece of wood behind the plastic and drilled through into that. Works well with spade bit and hole saw. Easiest way is to clamp a long piece of wood horizontally onto your table, half of it extending over the edge, and hang the bucket over that.

Cully · Post by **Cully** » Wed May 13, 2015 7:58 am

First use for the Workmate I got in Lidl for 11 quid - thanks Hogarth.

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:59 pm

Hole saws and spade bits are too aggressive for us on plastic. Use a step drill- it wont slip and it gives a very fine cut. Go through slowly one step at a time until you reach 20mm. Practise on some scrap plastic- an old lunch box lid or something. 20mm will probably be fine, you could try 22mm on your practise piece. If too big ream out the 20mm hole a touch with some fine abrasive paper over a large dowel.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Am-Tech-Large-S ... step+drill

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How to cut a hole in a plastic bucket

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