TRENDING ON FINEHOMEBUILDING

previous
  • 2013 HOUSES Awards
    2013 HOUSES Awards
  • Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration
    Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration
  • All about Roofing
    All about Roofing
  • 9 Concrete Countertops Ideas
    9 Concrete Countertops Ideas
  • Remodeling in Action
    Remodeling in Action
  • Basement Remodeling Tips
    Basement Remodeling Tips
  • 12 Remodeling Secrets
    12 Remodeling Secrets
  • 7 Smart Kitchen Solutions
    7 Smart Kitchen Solutions
  • 7 Small Bathroom Layouts
    7 Small Bathroom Layouts
  • What’s the best decking?
    What’s the best decking?
  • 15 Coffered-Ceiling Ideas
    15 Coffered-Ceiling Ideas
  • Read FHB on Your iPad
    Read FHB on Your iPad
  • 2014 HOUSES Awards
    2014 HOUSES Awards
  • The Hobbit House and More
    The Hobbit House and More
  • Clever daily tip in your inbox
    Clever daily tip in your inbox
next


Drilling foam-core steel doors

comments (0) January 31st, 2011 in Project Gallery
Click the thumbs up button above to vote for this tip. Help us choose Fine Homebuildings top-10 window and door tips. Click To Enlarge

Click the "thumbs up" button above to vote for this tip. Help us choose Fine Homebuilding's top-10 window and door tips

Photo: Drawing by Chuck Miller

I had to drill holes for deadbolt locks in some steel doors that had foam cores, and I almost destroyed the first couple of doors using a standard hole saw because the 1/4-in. pilot bit would wander off course in the soft foam. To remedy the situation, I removed the pilot bit and replaced it with a piece of 1/4-in. mild-steel rod, as shown in the drawing. To use the modified saw, I first drilled a 1/4-in. pilot hole through the door and a 2x block clamped to the door. Using the pilot hole to guide the steel rod, I cut my holes with no wobble and no tearout. Incidentally, for this work I found that a bi-metal hole saw held its edge better than one made of steel.

 

E. F. Bott, Jr., Troy, NY 

From Fine Homebuilding 53, pp. 26

 


posted in: Project Gallery, windows, doors

Comments (0)

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.