Cutting Circles - Wood, Rubbermaid, metal

[icabus]

When your cutting the holes into the resevoir or are that will hold the water after the watering period... What tools do you use to cut your holes?

I personally put my net pot face down on top of the lid then trace a circle around the top. I then manually draw a circle a few centimeters inside of that main circle.

I then Cut the circle using my Dremel stylus with a wierd circular cutt-off wheel. My lid circles are pretty ok but is there a better way?

Q: Is there a better way to cut circles on the lids?
Q: How do you cut yours? Tool, Method

Thanks!

 

[LoudBlunts]

aye man....

get yourself a drill

and a hole saw set/kit

they come with different sizes...

check lowes, home depot, target, walmart and the like

 

[Smitty750]

Hole Saw Way Easier

 

[bwinn27]

and way cleaner cut

 

[Alchemist]

I have a plastic growcab and I managed to cut perfect circles for it without expensive tools. I needed 4" holes for my ventilation ducts, so I took a 4" duct adapter and put it on the stove for a minute. I then pressed the hot 4" side into the plastic and it melted a perfect circular groove in the plastic to guide the razor blade through. Cut the hole with a box cutter. Perfect Circle, no fuss.

 

[VictorVIcious]

I agree drilling is easier, I think fostner bits are better than the hole saws, cleaner cut less deburring. Another way that has been mentioned is to use a small electric soldering iron to mark the hole which would be similar to what Alchemist is suggesting. VV

 

[mal_crane]

Definately get yourself a drill and hole saw to help out with the wood cutting. And for rubbermaid's I just use a regular box cutter. It seems to work just fine for me.

Haven't had to cut into any metal yet but I'm about to in the next couple days building a dresser grow. Any suggestions for cutting out socket holes into a metal reflector?

 

[fdd2blk]

drill a pilot hole then use a jigsaw.

 

[mal_crane]

Unfortunately, I don't have boxes full of tools to use anymore, not until i'm able to put up a new workshop. The drill I got. Figure if I just drill out a few guide holes for each socket, a decent pair of tin snips should do the trick right? I was just hoping there was an easier method with limited tools.

 

[fdd2blk]

laser eyes.

 

[cardsrok]

Try a hole saw kit from Harbor Freight.
Harbor Freight Tools

 

[mal_crane]

funny

 

[VictorVIcious]

Unfortunately, I don't have boxes full of tools to use anymore, not until i'm able to put up a new workshop. The drill I got. Figure if I just drill out a few guide holes for each socket, a decent pair of tin snips should do the trick right? I was just hoping there was an easier method with limited tools.

You can rent a Greenlee Knock-Out tool, made to punch holes for electrical installations. The big box stores will have thenm for sale but I think they are in the $70.00 range to buy, I would check Home Depot To see if they have them for rent. VV

 

[VictorVIcious]

Or you could just shoot a hole in it, like Mrs FDD would. lolVV

 

[mal_crane]

lol.

yup looks like my drill and tin snips will due just fine