Cutting 120mm Holes

Jokester · 30 Apr 2007 at 20:41

What's the recommended tools for cutting a 120mm fan hole? I've had a 120mm holesaw blade for years but never used it. Not sure what to pair it up with, a hand drill or small power drill?

I've got a bigger drill but it vibrates to much to make a clean hole.

Jokester

chaparral · 30 Apr 2007 at 20:49

I seem somewhere that you are meant to use about 114mm hole cutter as a 120mm would be to big....something like this http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-310352/bosch-114mm-bi-metal-hss-holesaw.html

I never tryed cutting one myself so i can't confirm...

p4radox · 30 Apr 2007 at 20:52

I used a battery powered hand drill to drill an 80mm hole in my Aria and it worked ok, but was a little slow. I'd suggest trying the small power drill.

Make sure you mark the hole carefully and drill a pilot hole first. Also, get the screw holes marked out first too.

chaparral · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:03

A 120mm fan on top and under my 114mm hole cutter...

Jokester · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:08

chaparral said:
I seem somewhere that you are meant to use about 114mm hole cutter as a 120mm would be to big....something like this http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-310352/bosch-114mm-bi-metal-hss-holesaw.html

I never tryed cutting one myself so i can't confirm...

Aye it would be a 114mm hole rather than 120mm, looks like it's the same one as mine actually.

Jokester

KotFM · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:15

You can probably get away with using a hand-held drill if you take it easy, but for the neatest result I'd recommend using a drill press (if you have access to one), and clamp the case down.

I presume you also have an arbor for the holesaw?

chaparral · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:16

Jokester said:
Aye it would be a 114mm hole rather than 120mm, looks like it's the same one as mine actually.

Jokester

If you measure the inside of the frame of a 120mm fan it is 115mm...

Jokester · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:18

KotFM said:
I presume you also have an arbor for the holesaw?

Yes, I'm looking to drill 3 holes into the top of my Stacker for a rad. The only place that might be problematic might be where there's an existing 80mm hole, but I can work round that.

Jokester

KotFM · 30 Apr 2007 at 21:30

When I've had to something like that, I drilled a hole in a scrap piece of MDF and clamped it to whatever I was drilling to act as a guide. It stops the holesaw going all over the place.

The Stacker is aluminium, isn't it? Should be fairly easy to cut through.

DampCat · 1 May 2007 at 08:36

KotFM said:
When I've had to something like that, I drilled a hole in a scrap piece of MDF and clamped it to whatever I was drilling to act as a guide. It stops the holesaw going all over the place.

Was about to suggest that!

PhillyDee · 1 May 2007 at 17:32

Go nice and slow. The slower the better, dont try and rush it. You can use a lubricant (not K-Y

) to help it cut better, such as a light oil. Though you really want to use a cutting paste. (Not really feasible to the general public).

surfsquid · 1 May 2007 at 22:46

I did an 80mm hole through 2mm steel using a pillar drill and hole saw. I took it very slow and used some lube (oil and water mix) this was under the instruction of my D.T tutor