Drilling a clean 3/4 hole

[EuropeanAM]

In addition to taping the surface and running the hole-saw in REVERSE until you penetrate through the gelcoat: I've found that a spray bottle of Soapy Water can help to keep the hole saw from walking and distorting the hole during cutting. Takes a little longer but makes a nice clean cut.

[jerzia]

A guaranteed way not to chip the gelcoat on a hole that big. Tape and mark position of hole. Use a very small bit or center drill to get a start. Go up in size with bits little by little. Once the hole is big enough to she size you want, get a Dremel 1/4" sanding drum and grind out the rest. Glass and get cut pretty easy. It will take a bit more time than a hole saw etc, but it will be clean. Keep measuring until you get the right size, vacuum, done!dremel.jpg

[styler]

Curios. Why you need it so clean? I agree with the others. Tape it, get the hole started and then run the bit in reverse. Get a good solid stance. any wobbling around will get you some chipping.

[Old Syko]

Diamond hole saw works better than anything else if used correctly. And no they are not expensive. I use them on fiberglass, glass, acrylic etc.

[BroWhoop]

Abrasive or carbide hole saw. Works great, no teeth just grit.

[mactlman]

reverse drill and also use blue tape over the hole

[DewRonInc]

Curios. Why you need it so clean? I agree with the others. Tape it, get the hole started and then run the bit in reverse. Get a good solid stance. any wobbling around will get you some chipping.

using a blue sea switch, very small lip outside of switch diameter…

[DewRonInc]

[DewRonInc]

Man it is next to impossible for me to do a picture here

[188Musky]

A Forsnter bit is what I use.

Perfect, clean hole every time. No wallowing, no walking on start-up.

[DewRonInc]

First hole I forgot to mention, already had a very small toggle switch there, going to have to mark first one and expand and do a Dremel

[PMantle]

Start with the drill in reverse and get a clean hole through the gel coat. Then put it in forward to drill the rest of the way through.

I needed todo this for the Noco battery charge thing and was terrified since my handyness level is probably 3/10. I followed the above advice and it was perfect. Love having that charge adapter.

[DewRonInc]

A guaranteed way not to chip the gelcoat on a hole that big. Tape and mark position of hole. Use a very small bit or center drill to get a start. Go up in size with bits little by little. Once the hole is big enough to she size you want, get a Dremel 1/4" sanding drum and grind out the rest. Glass and get cut pretty easy. It will take a bit more time than a hole saw etc, but it will be clean. I think Keep measuring until you get the right size, vacuum, done!dremel.jpg

I think that wins for my first one