How to drill a blind hole in chipboard. Drilling holes for confirmations

Hole in chipboard

Hole in chipboard.

When making furniture with your own hands, the operation of drilling holes in the parts is perhaps the next most important place after sawing them. Technologically, drilling holes in chipboard is not much different from drilling other materials used in furniture production, therefore, all the methods for making holes described in this article are also applicable to fiberboard, wood and other materials. A well-made hole is characterized by three main indicators: the absence of chips at the drill’s entry into the workpiece, a clean cut inside the hole, and the absence of chips at the drill’s exit from the workpiece.

The first question that arises when it is necessary to make a hole in a chipboard is what? and the next question will be - how? To get the correct answer to these questions, let’s divide the holes by diameter into three types, select a tool for each of them and consider the features of their manufacture.

Small diameter holes from 2 to 12 millimeters are best drilled with ordinary wood drills.
Holes of average diameter from 10 to 50 millimeters are made with special drills, such as a feather drill or a Forstner drill.
Large diameter holes from 40 to 200 millimeters are drilled with special cutters or an adjustable drill (ballerina).

For holes of larger diameter in furniture parts, the term drilling should no longer be used and, accordingly, a tool should be selected like an electric jigsaw or a hand router.

Holes in chipboard of small diameter from 2 to 12 mm.

Special drills are available for drilling small-diameter holes in chipboard and other wood-containing materials. The peculiarity of these drills intended for drilling wood lies in the method of sharpening them. A wood drill has the shape of a trident, where the middle part serves to center the drill, and the side parts cut the material. The photo shows the results of drilling holes on the left with a wood drill and on the right with a regular drill.

When drilling through holes the drill breaks out the outer layer of chipboard, so to prevent chipping it is necessary to place a piece of unnecessary chipboard on the side where the drill exits the hole. In the photo on the left is the result of drilling a hole in chipboard without a lining, and on the right with a lining.

Thus, we found out that in order to correctly drill holes in chipboard, it is necessary to use wood drills and use a backing plate at the exit of the drill from the workpiece.

Holes in chipboard of average diameter from 10 to 50 mm.

To drill through holes in chipboard of medium diameter, as a rule, feather drills are used (in common parlance, perk), and in cases where it is necessary to obtain a non-through hole (for example, to install hinges), a Forstner drill is used. A feather drill, like a wood drill, has a trident-shaped sharpening and therefore the technology for drilling holes in chipboard is similar. Also, do not forget to place a piece of chipboard at the exit of the drill from the hole.

The Forstner drill, like the previous samples, has a trident-shaped sharpening, but the cutting parts are not so long, which makes it possible to drill a hole in chipboard with a relatively flat bottom.

Holes in chipboard of large diameter from 40 to 250 mm.

For drilling in Chipboard holes For large diameters, two main tools are offered for sale. The first option is a hole saw, also known as a crown saw.

Both tools do an excellent job and make large holes in chipboard, plywood and other materials with ease. One of the disadvantages of using them is the quality of the resulting holes. The number of chips and the quality of the cut limits their use when working with facades and other furniture parts that will be in plain sight.

The jigsaw is a famous tool manual type, designed for cutting patterns on various surfaces. In terms of its importance, it is as important as a drill or hammer drill.

A jigsaw is used for sawing various types of materials (wood, metal, etc.).

They can make straight and curved openings in wood of any species and other non-natural materials, precise cuts geometric shapes with a complex trajectory. The tips and recommendations listed here will help you figure out how to cut a circle with a jigsaw.

Properties of metalworking tools

The jigsaw is intended for household and professional needs. Devices of the first type are characterized by low power and are designed for work in small volumes. The purpose of using special equipment is the professional orientation of the tool, its productivity and a long period of work.

Typically, household appliances have a standard set of functions:

frequency of moves;
method of fixing a sheet for cutting;
pendulum type movement;
turning the saw.

A jigsaw is used for finishing surfaces, cutting out uneven edges, internal holes, and making furniture. The processed material is securely fixed to the base. Marks are made on it in advance, then the holes are sawed. Rotational vibrations of the shaft are converted into translational movements. The saw is fixed on the rod, its quality determines the life of the product. When choosing a device, preference should be given round shapes and thickened rods.

The jigsaw is distinguished by such positive qualities, How:

Cutting holes in any samples.
A simple device allows you to quickly replace saws.
Possibility to make round or rectangular cuts.
Ease of use.
Does not require special knowledge or skills.
The presence of a significant number of saws with different step limits of action and tooth shapes makes it possible to carry out different kinds work in conditions of one device.
Reliable fixation of the cut sample allows any distance from the edge of the product.
The universal action device allows you to cut to any depth.
During the work, the material is practically not damaged.

Disadvantages:

The shortened movement of the blade ensures slower operation of the device.
Possibility of injury.
Possibility of cord failure.
Checking the battery charge level.

The jigsaw has a built-in protection system, pneumatics and an electric drive.

The new products being released are equipped with improved functions: reducing the number of vibrations, improving productivity indicators, and equipping the device with convenient functions. Depending on the method of fixing the cutting part, saws are:

with holes;
with a cross-shaped element;
with a smooth base.

A jigsaw can in some way replace a router, hand saw, circular, chain saw, corner grinding machine. The tool is necessary in any household; it allows you to carry out wood carving.

The current supplied to the device from the network gives an impulse to the motor, causing it to move. Together with the gearbox, it transmits the impulse to the gear, which secures the rod. The circular action of the shaft is modified into the movement of the working element of a reciprocating nature, moving up and down. The saws are fixed using screws or clamping mechanisms. Such fasteners help in short time change the canvas.

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Rules for working with a jigsaw

To understand how to properly saw a circle in wood, it is important to study the features. This carpentry tool helps to cut out ovals, wavy patterns, figures with uneven outlines, non-standard carved boxes, shelves with end-to-end patterns. To ensure that interaction with a jigsaw is organized and safe, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

In order for work with a jigsaw to proceed quickly and safely, do not forget to fix the product before work.

To avoid inconvenience, special stands should be prepared during work. A slot is made up to the middle of the support, somewhat reminiscent of a lock hole.
The stand is fixed with clamps or screws to the workbench.
At the time of work, you need to sit down, position the file strictly vertically relative to the floor and perpendicular to the surface.
The workpiece is placed in the middle of the stand, holding it with your left hand; you can saw the plywood with your right hand. The location of the cuts should be in the middle part of the support hole.
The tool does not tolerate strong pressure: just a small touch and gradual movement up and down, and it will begin to work effectively.

Attributes:

pencil;
drill;
drill;
jigsaw

Plywood (and to a lesser extent other sheet materials such as chipboard or oriented strand board) has significant decorative potential. If there is enough simple tool and certain skills, you can cut almost anything out of plywood.
But in order for the parts obtained as a result of such carving to look quite presentable, the master should have a few tricks in stock. We will talk about them in our article.

Getting started with sheet materials, many craftsmen only have an idea of how to cut in a straight line. Therefore, the question of how to cut an even circle from plywood can confuse many. And indeed, ordinary or circular saw can't cope with the task.
Figure cutting is most often done using the following tools:

The simplest device used for sawing. With the help of a jigsaw, even the most delicate work can be done with your own hands, but for thick material or long cuts it is practically not suitable.
Jigsaws. There are two types of devices you can use here:
- regular, with a vertical file;
- artistic, in which the role of the cutting element is performed by a steel blade.

Regular jigsaws will come in handy when working with thick ones. But if you are looking for a way to cut letters from plywood or make other complex elements (for example, parts children's construction set), then it is best to use a model with a band saw.

Advice! Naturally, for each type of jigsaw there are several types of files and blades. Right choice cutting element is a necessary condition High Quality products.

In addition to jigsaws, you can use a furniture router for curved cutting. Despite how difficult it is to operate, it is many times superior to most models of plywood saws in terms of the quality of the holes it makes. Using a router you can.

Also, do not forget about available devices, but we will talk about their use in the appropriate section.

Cutting from plywood has several nuances that the master needs to take into account:

Firstly, you can only cut on dry material. High humidity leads to an increase in the resistance of plywood, therefore, with excessive force, either the veneer will begin to delaminate or the file will break.
You need to change the saw or cutting blade immediately after the first signs that the teeth have become dull appear.
If we are cutting from plywood using a jigsaw, then to obtain cleaner edges, the main cutting lines should be placed along the grain of the veneer. But with hand files it is easier to work across the grain: there will be slightly more chips, but there is less risk of the file getting pinched or moving away from the intended line.

Advice! When transferring designs for cutting from plywood onto the workpiece, try to place the template in such a way that the elements to be removed fall on areas with defects: knots, chips, stains, etc.

Shape cutting technologies

Jigsaw

As we noted above, a jigsaw will come in handy if we are looking for how to cut a word out of plywood or make other parts of complex shapes:

We transfer pre-printed drawings or templates onto the workpiece using carbon paper.

If the structure has through sections, we do it thin drill starting holes.
Insert a file or jigsaw blade into the hole. Secure the free end of the file with a fastening screw or clamp.
We make a cut along the intended line, pressing the workpiece to the workbench. The saw moves either automatically (for electric jigsaws) or manually.

After all the arc elements have been sawn, we remove unnecessary areas and process finished part file or sandpaper.

Fraser

A furniture router is great for cutting out thick plywood. Certainly, complex shape You can’t make it with it, but you can easily cut an arc or circle:

We fix the standard ruler included in the router in the center of the circle using a self-tapping screw.
If the length of the ruler is not enough, you can assemble a simple bracket from metal profile or wooden planks.
By rotating the cutter along a fixed radius, we select a groove along the circumference, resulting in an almost ideal hole.

Note! When calculating the diameter of the circle, you should take into account the dimensions of the working cutter. The instructions for the device will tell you the exact numbers.

In this way, you can cut not only circles, but also individual arcs - for example, in order to make grooves for furniture brackets.

Using improvised means

For curly elements it is advisable to have special devices, but any craftsman may need to make a round hole in a slab of laminated veneer. Below we will tell you how to cut a circle from plywood when you have nothing at hand.
Well, almost nothing:

Used for cutting plywood wooden plank with two nails.
One nail is driven through the strip into the workpiece, exactly in the center of the hole being made.
We drive the second nail into the bar so that the point protrudes on the wrong side by at least 5-10 mm. The distance from the first nail should be equal to the radius the hole being made.
Rotating the bar, use the tip to draw a groove on the plywood, deepening it with each turn.
Instead of a stick, you can use a strong cord. The operating principle remains unchanged.

The sharper the nail used, the faster the hole will be made.
It should be noted that although the price of such a device is low, it is worth using it only when other methods are not available: the edges still turn out to be far from ideal.

Similar materials

Often the question of how to cut even circles from plywood with a jigsaw confuses novice craftsmen. After all, doing this is much more difficult than a simple straight cut; no saw will help here.

Most often, a jigsaw helps to cope with the task of figure cutting. Jigsaws can be manual or electric. A manual jigsaw consists of a frame with blade clamps and a handle. Main disadvantages hand jigsaw: low mechanical strength canvases and small size framework. As a result of this, the blade often breaks and it is impossible to cut at a large distance from the edges of the part. These jigsaws are usually used for processing wooden products. There are regular jigsaws, in which the saw is located vertically, and for artistic cutting, where cutting element is a steel sheet. Electric jigsaws usually used when working with thick material.

Key rules

To make the sawing process simple and fast, you must follow the basic key operating rules:

To ensure that the edges of the plywood are even, it is better to cut along the blade.

You can only work with dry material, since humidity increases the resistance of the material, as a result of which the veneer may begin to delaminate;
it is necessary to change the cutting blade immediately after the first signs of dullness of the teeth appear;
It is better to work with a jigsaw along the fibers of the material, so the edges will be smoother;
Use a hand jigsaw to cut across the grain of the veneer.

To ensure safe work, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

securely fasten the sawing table and the file in the frame;
the jigsaw must have serviceable and well-fitted handles;
You should not press the jigsaw too hard, trying to “help” it, this will only lead to an acceleration of dulling of the working blade;
It is best to make straight and long cuts with a wide blade, so the cutting process will go faster;
You must always see the markings, so sawdust must be removed from the material being cut by hand, and under no circumstances should you blow it away, as it can get into your eyes.

Compliance with these simple rules will help a beginner learn how to cut circles with a jigsaw and make his work easier.

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Cutting instructions

Before starting work, you need to drill a hole in the plywood for the jigsaw blade.

To cut even circles with a jigsaw quickly and beautifully, you don’t have to be an expert in this field, but for a beginner it can be a very difficult task. In this matter, the main thing is patience and, of course, the presence of the necessary accompanying tools, such as the jigsaw itself, a file, a compass, a simple pencil and devices for polishing the surface.

The first thing to do is draw a circle on the surface of the material you will be working with. It would be best to use a compass or select a suitable circle and trace it. You need to trace with a pencil so that traces of it can be erased in the future.

If you need to cut a circle inside the surface, you should make a through starting hole. Next, you need to insert a jigsaw blade or file into this hole and secure the free end of the file with a clamp. It is recommended to cut while sitting. First of all, you need to secure the file in the jigsaw using a key, keeping in mind that the teeth of the file should be directed downward. You need to cut from top to bottom. The tool should be held straight to avoid nicks and bevels.

The main thing in this process is not to rush and cut smoothly without sudden movements.

It is necessary to take short breaks during the sawing process, as the file may overheat and break. Now the circle is ready. Now it is recommended to use a file to straighten the edges, erase the markings left by the pencil and polish the part. If necessary, it can be varnished.

Of course, it requires certain dexterity and skills, but everything comes with experience. Therefore, following the recommendations described above should help the novice master in mastering this interesting and exciting activity.

Small diameter holes (up to 10-12 mm) in wood and chipboard are most often drilled with ordinary metal drills. They cope with their task quite successfully. But if every millimeter is important for the position of the hole, then you need to use special drills.

When entering wood, a metal drill may deviate slightly to the side, even if a recess is made with an awl at the site of the future hole.

In general, drilling wood can be done even with an ordinary nail or a piece of wire with a flattened end. Special drills for wood have to be resorted to only when it is necessary to drill a hole of large diameter, or when increased demands are placed on surface cleanliness and accuracy. There are several types of such drills:

spiral (a);
twisted or single-spiral (it is sometimes also called spiral) (b);
feather (in);
annular (crown) (d);
Forstner cylindrical drill (d).

Wood drills are made from alloy tool and carbon tool steels; metal cannot be processed with them.

Twist drill drill holes of small and medium diameter. It can easily be replaced with a metal drill bit, although the hole will be cleaner if you use a wood twist drill bit.

Single twist drill has an acute cutting edge and a screw shape, which removes chips well. It is used when you need to get an accurate deep hole with a clean wall surface.

Feather drill They are usually used when drilling holes with a diameter of 10 to 25 mm, although there are drills with a diameter smaller than 10 and larger than 25 mm. This drill is the simplest in design and the cheapest, so it is reasonable to use it in all cases where high demands are not placed on the quality of the hole. The disadvantages of a feather drill include poor direction, low diameter accuracy, rough surface of the hole walls, and the need to periodically remove chips by stopping drilling and removing the drill from the hole. The advantages are simplicity and low cost.

Crowns used when drilling large diameter holes - up to 100 mm or more. The kits contain one mandrel with a shank and a center drill and several bits that are inserted into the mandrel.

Forstner drill has a centering point and a sharp scorer. Thanks to the latter, it is distinguished by precise cutting geometry. Typically used for drilling blind holes to precise dimensions in softwood, chipboard or laminate for the installation of furniture canopies.

Forstner drill bits can be short or long pointed.

It is more difficult to make a blind hole for a hinge in a thin door with a Forstner drill with a long point, since the point can make a through hole. But a drill with a short tip is more prone to moving to the side. In addition to differences in the length of the tip, the Forstner drills shown in the photo above differ in their maximum rotation speed. So a drill with a short tip has welded knives made of high-speed steel and is suitable for working at high speeds, and a drill with a long tip has a maximum rotation speed when working with soft wood equal to 1000 rpm.

There is another device for cutting large holes - this ballerina, designed for cutting large (up to 300 mm) holes in thin pieces of wood, chipboard, fiberboard and other materials.

The ballerina consists of a centering drill and two cutters that are used to cut out a circle. The displacement of the cutters along the guide sets the diameter of the circle being cut. To rotate the ballerina, use a brace or drill with a low speed. You can also rotate it manually.

How to drill wood and chipboard

To prevent the drill from going to the side at the very beginning of drilling, you need to make a small depression in the center of the future hole with an awl. Drilling wood is carried out at low and medium speeds of the drill. The main problem when drilling through holes is chipping at the drill exit. There are two ways to deal with them. First drill a thin hole and drill along it from both sides of the part to the middle with a drill of the final diameter. In this way, it will be possible to avoid chips that occur at the exit. The second method is to firmly press a piece of wood onto the side where the drill comes out, which is removed after drilling.

To make the drill perpendicular, jigs are used. The latter are especially convenient for making holes in cylindrical parts.

Drilling chipboard requires special attention due to its fragile structure. The presence of laminated or veneer coating complicates the task. To avoid their peeling, use drills with a sharp edge (in particular, a cylindrical Forstner drill) and a backing plate at the exit. To mark holes, be sure to use an awl.

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