I know we've got a few counter top installers here, so I'd appreciate a
professional opinion.

I need to drill a 3" cable hole, to be trimmed with a plastic grommet,
in a friend's built-in laminate computer desk. This is standard,
everyday "Formica" laminate glued to particle board substrate.

Since I've got one shot to get this right and no scrap to practice with,
should I use a hole saw or forstner bit? Router with template?

Thanks!

B A R R Y wrote:
I know we've got a few counter top installers here, so I'd appreciate a
professional opinion.

I need to drill a 3" cable hole, to be trimmed with a plastic grommet,
in a friend's built-in laminate computer desk. This is standard,
everyday "Formica" laminate glued to particle board substrate.

Since I've got one shot to get this right and no scrap to practice with,
should I use a hole saw or forstner bit? Router with template?

Thanks!

Holesaw. One caveat,... when you have bored through the
laminate on the top, pull out the holesaw and remove the
laminate circle, then drill until the guide bit comes through
the bottom. Drill the hole up from the bottom the rest of the
way and you will have a nice clean hole on both sides.

If you drill all the way through from the top, the laminate
circle is sometimes very difficult to get out of the hole saw.
The wood/particle board comes out fairly easily, but that
thin piece of laminate can be a pain.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

Robert Allison wrote:

Holesaw. One caveat,...

Thanks!

In article DBjbg.1$kR6.0@trnddc05,
Robert Allison wrote:

B A R R Y wrote:
I know we've got a few counter top installers here, so I'd appreciate a
professional opinion.

I need to drill a 3" cable hole, to be trimmed with a plastic grommet,
in a friend's built-in laminate computer desk. This is standard,
everyday "Formica" laminate glued to particle board substrate.

Since I've got one shot to get this right and no scrap to practice with,
should I use a hole saw or forstner bit? Router with template?

Thanks!

Holesaw. One caveat,... when you have bored through the
laminate on the top, pull out the holesaw and remove the
laminate circle, then drill until the guide bit comes through
the bottom. Drill the hole up from the bottom the rest of the
way and you will have a nice clean hole on both sides.

If you drill all the way through from the top, the laminate
circle is sometimes very difficult to get out of the hole saw.
The wood/particle board comes out fairly easily, but that
thin piece of laminate can be a pain.

Good advice.

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
In article DBjbg.1$kR6.0@trnddc05,
Robert Allison wrote:

B A R R Y wrote:
I know we've got a few counter top installers here, so I'd appreciate a
professional opinion.

I need to drill a 3" cable hole, to be trimmed with a plastic grommet,
in a friend's built-in laminate computer desk. This is standard,
everyday "Formica" laminate glued to particle board substrate.

Since I've got one shot to get this right and no scrap to practice
with,
should I use a hole saw or forstner bit? Router with template?

Thanks!

Holesaw. One caveat,... when you have bored through the
laminate on the top, pull out the holesaw and remove the
laminate circle, then drill until the guide bit comes through
the bottom. Drill the hole up from the bottom the rest of the
way and you will have a nice clean hole on both sides.

If you drill all the way through from the top, the laminate
circle is sometimes very difficult to get out of the hole saw.
The wood/particle board comes out fairly easily, but that
thin piece of laminate can be a pain.

Good advice.

Yes, it is good advice, but hardly essential. If you don't have good access
to the bottom don't worry about it; do the whole thing in one shot from the
top.

Router.

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
. net...
I know we've got a few counter top installers here, so I'd appreciate a
professional opinion.

I need to drill a 3" cable hole, to be trimmed with a plastic grommet,
in a friend's built-in laminate computer desk. This is standard,
everyday "Formica" laminate glued to particle board substrate.

Since I've got one shot to get this right and no scrap to practice with,
should I use a hole saw or forstner bit? Router with template?

Thanks!

In article , "Toller"
wrote:

Yes, it is good advice, but hardly essential. If you don't have good access
to the bottom don't worry about it; do the whole thing in one shot from the
top.

Really?