old drill bits

[yipster]

drilling holes in fiberglas its better to use old drills i just hear, new drils may crack the gellcoat

[rturbett]

I would rather use a new drill bit with light pressure untill it starts than burn the hole through with a dull bit.
Let me know if you would like all my old, dull bits!

[yipster]

well thats what i would think too but on BBC tv i just saw the building of a kitcar and it was said that new drils are to sharp for the gellcoat and you risk damage...
old bits? i got a sharpener

[SuperPiper]

I had reason to drill 1/8" holes into my fibreglass battens. To countersink without tearing the glass, I had better results when I ran the drill backwards.

Yipster may be correct.

[yipster]

there goes all the the old dull bits...

[wet feet]

If you are concerned about chipping the gel,I have found it helpful to remove the rake angle of the drill flute by rubbing it on an oilstone.A very small vertical face will not dig in and it will just cut a little slower.It also helps when drilling from the back of the laminate.

[jbassion]

For small holes tape the surface then drill with a small pilot bit befor using the correct size bit. For large holes (with a hole saw) tape the area, then score the surface by running the hole saw in reverse then drill thru. Happy hol'in.

[Bergalia]

Concur with wet feet - but suggest you apply a thin coating of melted bees' wax (or candlewax) over the area to be drilled. Stop the drill slipping - and holds the gellcoat firm against fractional splitting. Don't forget to clean off beeswax before applying new coat or epoxy..