drill a hole on acrylic?

[akm]

There are bits that are better for drilling acrylic than the one you probably have but the 1" diameter bit that you have will work fine. Maybe just watch out for the bit getting stuck to melted acrylic because that can cause cracking.

[LoneStar]

I've never had any problems drilling holes into acrylic. The thicker the material, the safer off you are (its the thin material you gotta worry about splintering when drilling). Just make sure your hole saw has a fine tooth cutting edge. You do not want one that is coarse tooth. This would cause the teeth to grab the acrylic in larger chunks while cutting and cause a jagged hole. One thing you can do is put some tape down where you are going to be drilling the hole. Other than than, go slow so you do not melt the material. If you drill the hole too fast you will start melting the acrylic rather than cutting it. And hold the drill straight ;)

[Ping]

there are better bits, but as Lonestar stated, Go real slow, use the tape and....

Ace showed me how to do it, and he uses a regular hole saw with a piece of wood under the part he is drilling. And he produces quality work.

[Ping]

Good question, IDK.

[brewercm]

Just wanted to make sure that you knew this info also. For a 1 inch bulkhead you'll need a 1 3/4" hole and for a 3/4" bulkhead a 1 1/2" size hole.
That is if you are using a bulkhead.

[caferacermike]

Another tip I learned in Michigan.... While drilling through cold vinyl house siding in the spring..... Run the drill in reverse. It will take longer but it becomes impossible to crack the plastic. I've used that method numerous times on several plastics and metals (especially thin sheet metal that tends to hang up after breaking through a section) as well as acrylics.

[urban79]

rotozip!!!

[Richard]

I just use a regular hole saw with smaller teeth. Then I spray it with water every minute or two to keep the bit cool and the acrylic from melting.

[urban79]

Ya you can get the ones made for metal. they have a sanding tooth

[caferacermike]

I just use a regular hole saw with smaller teeth. Then I spray it with water every minute or two to keep the bit cool and the acrylic from melting.

It takes a minute to cut through Acrylic? Wow, I cut through sch40 galv 6" pipe in one minute or less with up to 3" holesaws or I lose my job.

[Richard]

I've never had a sump built out of sch40 so I can't comment on drilling one.