What tool for this job?

Naan_H

Naan_H

Naan_H

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Hi all,

I have bought a bunch of besta units from ikea that will be joined together to make a tv unit to house sky box , av amp, ps3, HTPC etc

I want to be able to run cables through the back of the units, but am not sure what tool to use to drill holes in the thin back board. Do you have any suggestions?

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The holes do not have to be too big, but power cable, ethernet and hdmi cables probably need to be able to run though. Looking for something cheap that will do a quick and clean job.

Thanks.
 
for reasonable sized holes a hole-saw would be okay and give a clean cut if you start it from one side and finish from the other.

When I lived in my flat I had just got an ikea unit with a back like that and needed a 120mm fan hole (112mm hole iirc) in the back I had the hole-saw but no drill (long story, don't ask!) I actually managed to do it literally by hand - just turning the holesaw with my hand - remarkably effective! [edit: it did have an arbor in it - but I even did the pilot hole by hand]

If you're going to do it then usually the cheapest option is a kit with a few of them in. if you buy them individually you normally pay a bit more as they tend to be better and they assume you already have an arbor for it; so it's best just to buy a cheap kit I think.

I've got a few different holesaws - some are quite expensive one-offs but I did buy this kit for odd jobs and to be honest it's fine.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht350-16-piece-hole-saw-set?da=1&TC=SRC-hole saw
also:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht350-16-piece-hole-saw-set?da=1&TC=SRC-hole saw
The above 2 kits can be had cheaper on eBay under different brands by the way!
 
If it is just Ethernet and HDMI a hole saw is over the top I would use a 32mm spade bit much better finish also put some masking tape down and drill over that to minimize the edges chipping which is reduced anyway by using a spade bit over a hole saw.

edit did not see the power cables still I would cut the plugs off and remake them once threaded through.
 
bullit in head said:
as you've been to IKEA, go back and buy there hole kit comes with hole saw and 3 cable hole covers and and plates, well worth the fiver .

bullit
Click to expand...

Thanks all for the suggestions - re the ikea kit - i didnt see anything like that there when i went, but i did not purposefully look too - is it something you bought a long time ago or is it something in their current stock list - i have checked the website and no luck.

I have purchased the hole saw kit linked above from machinemart but would like to see the ikea kit first before opening.
 
The Ikea hole saw kit is okay however I'd just use what you've got (and you probably have done). It was called the "Signum Outlet Kit". Hole saws are pretty easy to use just hook it up to your drill and keep some pressure on it and you'll be through in no time :)
 
I have the same bestå unit, and I just left the backing board out entirely to help with airflow around my amp and xbox. Depends how well you can run cable as to how neat it looks...
 
Use a knife. A hole saw will make a mess if you don't clamp the board between two pieces of thicker wood. A hole saw will probably make a mess of that board regardless.

You only need a small hole by the sounds of it, you could always just use a large drill bit. You would have to take off the plug on the power cable put the cable through then rewire the plug onto the power cable, but since you don't know how to cut a hole in a bit of wood I'm not sure you will be confident in rewiring a plug.
 
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Beer_MonsterUK said:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/flat-wood-bit-20mm/13528

Cheap and if you take it steady it'll make a perfect job. Push too hard and you'll splinter the back edge of the unit, but thats the case with the holesaw & auger too.
Click to expand...

The trick with those flat wood bits is to drill until the point appears on the reverse of the material and then to stop and continue the hole from the other side, it'll meet up perfectly and you'll have splinter free hole
 
Just wanted to say thanks for all your suggestions and help.

Used a holesaw in the end attached to a drill. Worked pretty well, the edges of the backboard did slightly chip but im not fussed. Here's the unit finished, minus my centre speaker which is still to go in. All in all, very happy.

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