Hole Saw

[Booms]

About to pull the trigger on the install of my ballast system. I went and bought a hole saw to fit the vent and drain lines for the rear sacs. I did not notice until after I took it out of the package that it is a Carbide Grit Cutting edge. I tested on a peice of wood and seemed to work but it created a lot of dust.

Have any of you used this type of hole saw with fiberglass (On the packaging it states fiberglass as the materials to use on)?

Should I just go buy a tooth style hole saw?

What do you all think?

[Tanner]

Hmmmmm, may end up with less chance of chipping your gel that way. Might as well try it since you've already used it.

[kko]

I think it will work fine.They all make alot of dust!I would still use masking tape over the area to help reduce chipping.

[Booms]

Here is a picture from their webpage.

[talltigeguy]

I've done a lot of hole drilling and installed a ballast system myself.

The best advice I got was to actually put the drill in reverse to get through the initial gel coat layers. That will minimize any chances of it chipping because the saw won't 'grab' chunks of gel coat. It will only take a few seconds longer. Once through the gel coat and into the fiberglass, you can switch directions if you are in a hurry.

Also do the tape around the hole as said above.

Check the size. I found when I did my ballast, that I was supposed to drill one size, but found the fitting to be a full 1/8" smaller than what they said it was. Getting that to seal might have been a real pain had I not noticed. Check the fitting in the hole you did in the wood.

[noworries]

I also drill a very small hole at the location I intend to drill the large hole. Then you can see exactly where the big-ole hole will end up. You've then got a chance to relocate that big-ole hole up to the radius of the big-ole hole. In fact, you could even fill the very small hole if you've completely blown its location.

Measure twice and drill twice....

[Fast1911]

I've done a lot of hole drilling and installed a ballast system myself.

The best advice I got was to actually put the drill in reverse to get through the initial gel coat layers. That will minimize any chances of it chipping because the saw won't 'grab' chunks of gel coat. It will only take a few seconds longer. Once through the gel coat and into the fiberglass, you can switch directions if you are in a hurry.

Also do the tape around the hole as said above.

Check the size. I found when I did my ballast, that I was supposed to drill one size, but found the fitting to be a full 1/8" smaller than what they said it was. Getting that to seal might have been a real pain had I not noticed. Check the fitting in the hole you did in the wood.

I also drill a very small hole at the location I intend to drill the large hole. Then you can see exactly where the big-ole hole will end up. You've then got a chance to relocate that big-ole hole up to the radius of the big-ole hole. In fact, you could even fill the very small hole if you've completely blown its location.

Measure twice and drill twice....

100% great advice

The carbide tip will serve you well on the gel coat, going in reverse at the beginning is excellent

[Booms]

100% great advice

The carbide tip will serve you well on the gel coat, going in reverse at the beginning is excellent

Thanks for all the great tips.
I am taking a day of vacation Weds to get the ballast system installed. I hope that from 9:00am to 3:30pm I will complete it. I should have pics through out the process.

[dogbert]

Check the size. I found when I did my ballast, that I was supposed to drill one size, but found the fitting to be a full 1/8" smaller than what they said it was. Getting that to seal might have been a real pain had I not noticed. Check the fitting in the hole you did in the wood.

This is absolutely the best advice...also use a piece of wood to practice and make sure the fitting will work on the hole you put in the wood.

[Booms]

This is absolutely the best advice...also use a piece of wood to practice and make sure the fitting will work on the hole you put in the wood.

I already practiced on Wood. Everything fits. It is now just getting over the fear of drilling into my boat!