Drilling Hole in Dash????

[capeclassics]

I'm goin to hafta eventually drill a hole in my dash for a Cargo Light Switch.Drilling on metal always makes me nervous due to having experience of the drill bit "scrolling" all over the place!!!
Anyways,I'm thinking I hafta use a hole bit and wanna know where to buy one for metal use,and also,how to keep the bit where I want it when starting to drill.Thanks.Sorry,for all the rookie questions.

[Redcap]

To keep the bit in one place, use a punch do make a dimple where you want the hole. Then use a small bit and go slow, then a larger bit depending on how large you need the hole.

[surubet]

Mark the hole location and then take a center punch to make a dimple at that point. Use a small drill bit to start the hole ... that will help you stay on center without rolling out of the dimple and will make the none cutting portion (the very tip) of the larger drill bit stay in place. If you are planning to use a hole saw, most any hardware store should carry them though you will probably pay more for hole saws under one inch seeing as most people don't have that big of a need for those sizes. If you were thinking of using like an electrical knockout punch set, those can be even more expensive and can bend the sheetmetal.
It also helps to put tape all around the hole drilling point to keep the drill bit from chipping the surrounding paint.

[jor]

You should be able to pick up the hole saw at Ace, Home Depot or Lowes. You might consider taking out the adjacent controls so you can run a straight edge to make sure your new hole is exactly right. Then, as has been said, pop a dimple with a punch. Be careful not to whack it too hard or you'll distort the dash metal. Take photos and post, of course.
jor

[Fake Name]

I like to use masking tape. I tape over the area where the hole will be, and mark it. Just drill through the tape- it keeps the bit from skittering around.

fn

[72hiboy4x4]

make sure to get a bi-metal holesaw. I normally find these are in white. Regular (black) ones are for wood drilling, bi-metal is for metal and will make a cleaner cut hole.

[68F250]

I've got a set of Greenlee hole punches that have really come in handy over the years, makes perfect holes, worth the investment.

[mrsnicks]

I don't have a hole saw, but I have an incremental bit. Not sure the technical name for it.. its a drill bit that looks like a round cone/pyramid. It goes up in size each step up the bit. You drill the hole and keep pushing until you get to the size you want. I have 2.. I that goes up to 3/4 inch, and another that goes up to 1 1/2 inch.

Everything else still applies.. use a punch to mark the center point... mask off the edges... drill a pilot hole with a small bit.

Patrick

[Fake Name]

I just used one of those for the first time the other day. Saw it on some overhauling TV show. They work great and cut a very clean hole. I'm never going back to the other ones.

fn

[Redcap]

Those bits are called stepper bits. They rock.

[layedout72]

put masking tape down where the hole will be. this helps keep the paint from chipping on the edges. and peal towards the center of the circle.