Question for the blokes

[Elaine Ross]

I'm drilling airholes in tubs for tarantula's, yip all on my own lol, but whats annoying me is that when the holes are drilled there are little sharp bits sticking out from where the drill went through. Making sense?
These are on the inside of the tub and are a wee bit sharp so I want to get rid of them or stop it happenng when I drill.
Help?

Elaine

[mary walters]

Either give them a good tug or use a bit of sandpaper Elaine, I drill my own too.....

[Neil Ashby]

Elaine

If you go through the holes again from the other side , it should remove the sharp bits !!

....... thats if you can get your drill in the tub to do so !

[mary walters]

Oooh, I hadn't thought of that Neil, thanks.

[Neil Ashby]

This is why i hate seeing T`s sent through the post in cricket tubs , they always have sharp bits inside and i worry that the T could rip open their abdomen on them !

[Elaine Ross]

Thanks Mary, but doesnt the sand paper scratch all the plastic. The containers I'm drilling are almost see through. You know those 5L cereal containers used for Avics. I'm worried about scratching it all.

Neil, I cant get the drill in there but thanks anyway.

Elaine

[Neil Ashby]

Elaine

If you stick sellotape to the inside of the tub before you drill , the tape will sometimes prevent the " breakout" on the other side !

I find this when drilling wood but it all depends on the plastic you are drilling whether this will work !

Hope this helps

[Neil Ashby]

....... or hold a piece of wood the other side !!

( be carefull you dont drill ya hand tho !!!! )

[Elaine Ross]

Woohoo thanks Neil. I will try the tape first and if that doesnt work I will give the wood a go.

Thanks god I've got a spare tub lol.

Elaine

[Neil Ashby]

Tis ok

Us blokes do come in handy now and again lol

[Elaine Ross]

I didnt have sellotape but masking tape works great

I didnt need a new bloke just a tarantula forum

Thanks again Neil. I would have been stuck otherwise
Elaine

[Colin D Wilson]

Use a sharp stanley blade (just the blade), flat against the tub to slice off the plastic remnants.
use a rocking motion, don't put too much pressure on it and please watch your fingers.

[Elaine Ross]

Another excellent idea. Thanks Colin that will work for the ones I did before the masking tape.

I will be sticking gloves on for that job though lol.

Elaine

[KJ Vezino]

I frequently drill through plexiglass and if you're not careful, it'll split when you break through the other side. But if you hold a block of wood on the other side and drill into both, you all but eliminate that problem, you also reduce the amount of spurs that are on the back side. For any spurs that are left, I'd go to the hardware store and buy a round file, you'll be able to slide it into the hole and file the spurs away from the inside. Then you also wont mess up the clear finish.

Also, have you considered using a wood buring tool, or a soldering gun and melting the holes instead? Yeah, it stinks, but it's easier.
Round File:

[Elaine Ross]

Thanks Kevin

I have stacks of tools here but I dont know what half of them are. I will have a root around and see what I can find for filing.

I will keep the suggestion about using a piece of wood in mind for any other drilling.

Elaine