Drilling Acrylic

by Russ Fairfield

Drill slowly. If the chips coming out of the hole are in little chunks instead of a long ribbon, it is definitely getting too hot. Plastic has a very low melting temperature, and the friction in the hole starts melting the hole rather than drilling it. It becomes bigger because the chips are building up on the drill rather than being pushed up by the drill flutes.

Remove the drill after every 1/8" to eject the chips. Don't go back into the hole until it is cool to the touch. Use a wet paper towel to cool the drill. Squirt a little water into the hole to cool the plastic. Do not let either the drill or the plastic get hot enough that you can't touch it