I'm about to install my dead pedal and have to make 4 holes through the carpet into the fiberglass. In the past when I've mounted things through carpet the drill can cause runs in the material. Since I have new expensive "German square weave" I'm afraid to drill. Any advice? Thank you.
Richard
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Mark the hole locations with a laundry marker, slit an X at each site, peel back the flaps, drill the holes, trim the holes if required, glue down the carpet, install the item....
Leon,
Thank you, good method.
I usually just run the drill backwards until I burn through the carpet. Then go forward through the fiberglass. Seems to work.
I just drilled a 1.25" hole in my firewall today for a wire harness. I ran the hole saw backwards until the carpet plug came out. Then forward through the fiberglass.
Interesting, thank you
After some thought I considered the cutting an X method then wondered ( these are 4 small holes to attach an RS style dead pedal) if a heated leather punch might give me a small “ cleared” area in the carpet. Any thoughts?
Richard
Don't bother with the cut "X" or running the drill backwards or the punch.
Go get a can of Johnson & Johnson floor wax like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Johns...wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
When you're ready to drill with the drill bit chucked up, dip the cutting end of the drill into the wax to 1" - 1-1/2" and just drill like normal. The wax will cause the carpet to slip around the drill and not get caught and will NOT cause a run. Re-dip the drill for each new hole. It will not affect the cutting of the drill (I believe it enhances the cut).
I've been doing this since the 1960's and haven't had a carpet run since. I learned it from a car stereo installer, which I eventually became, too.
I was sure someone was going to tell us that Griot's Garage carried a special carpet drill.
Thanks Gordon great idea.
@R Thorpe posted:After some thought I considered the cutting an X method then wondered ( these are 4 small holes to attach an RS style dead pedal) if a heated leather punch might give me a small “ cleared” area in the carpet. Any thoughts?
Lots of great ideas here. I do what you suggested-- heat a rod of some sort, about the same diameter as the hole, and "cauterize" the carpet.
I can get a hole with no runs with one of the other methods, but it always leaves loose strands of carpet waiting to leave loose fibers around. Burning through means no loose threads, and no runs, ever.
Your mileage may vary.
........." I don't usually drill holes in carper but when I do " ...... I sharpen the one end of a 1/8" or 1/4" wide piece of steel tubing on a bench grinder then hammer on that to go through the carpet then drill.
Alan's suggestion is really a fool proof technique. That's the ONLY method I've used for far too many years to admit. The sharpened tubing may also be chucked in a drill motor.
I used a soldering iron to burn a hole then drilled, worked like a charm. Thanks to all for great ideas. Cheers.
Richard
We have always heated a screwdriver with torch and just burned through carpet. Hole size easy to adjust with different size drivers. May not work on all applications obviously, but very efficient.
