Drilling through carpet

[1971ChevyTruck]

What is the best way to drill small holes through carpet without snagging the carpet??

[Security guy]

I've always took a sharp razor blade and cut a small 'x' into the carpet where the bolt will come up through. I don't think you want to run a drill bit through the carpet. That could cause some problems.

[Skirkpat]

What are you trying to do ? I would not "drill" carpet...if you are putting holes in the metal below, take the carpet out / pull it back...If you are trying to put holes in the carpet for wiring or something, I always get a large nail red hot and poke it through, that way it keeps it from un raveling around the hole.

[kyull67]

^yeah I've found that burning a hole with a rod or nail works really well, unless it's somewhere noticable.

[1971ChevyTruck]

I need to drill small holes for the Lokar shifter boot cover and the door sill covers. The problem is I can't pull the carpet back around the shifter since it's already mounted. So I might try to use a soldering iron point to burn holes or something. I had heard if you reverse the drill that it might wear a hole with out snagging the carpet. Just looking for some good ideas.

[blakeaz33]

I just put new carpet in my truck and had to drill holes for the the screws for the new door sill plates - I put masking tape over the carpet and drilled through the carpet with a sharp 3/16 bit and didn't have any problems snagging the new carpet.

[1971ChevyTruck]

Masking tape might just work...I might try that

[blakeaz33]

Originally Posted by 1971ChevyTruck

I need to drill small holes for the Lokar shifter boot cover and the door sill covers. The problem is I can't pull the carpet back around the shifter since it's already mounted. So I might try to use a soldering iron point to burn holes or something. I had heard if you reverse the drill that it might wear a hole with out snagging the carpet. Just looking for some good ideas.

Burning the holes like you mention sounds like a good idea - if I did it again I would heat up a narrow center punch I have with a propane torch and melt the holes through the carpet then drill. The way I did it worked fine - I postioned the door sills drilled a hole, I think the tape may have helped and I had a lot off pressure on the area I was drilling so that may have helped to eliminate any snagging.

[passthebuck]

You can also cut the "x" in the carpet & place a piece of tubing into the x thats bigger than the hole to be drilled. Drill down through the space created by the tubing. Remove tubing & voila.

[cdowns]

i've always used hole punches// available at hardeware stores sears cfart stores and online thru leathercraft suppliers

[cdowns]

i've always used hole punches to make holes in carpet// available at hardeware stores sears cfart stores and online thru leathercraft suppliers

[Green Machine]

Pencil tip soldering iron works great for me, stinks like H**L, but gets the job done fast.

[frostie_122]

drill in reverse for a bit and then drill through. shouldn't snag.

[GMC Jim]

Several years ago, I had to install plug in receptcales on a carpeted wall. ( The carpet extended about 4 feet from the floow with a molding on top of carpet/wall.) Used a pencil tip soldering iron; worked great to 'burn' in the mounting holes...Worked great !!

[Woody]

Another option is to take a small piece of tubing and sharpen the tip. Chuck it in the drill and use it to drill thru the carpet.

But I like the idea of the hot soldering iron to burn a small hole.

[adpostel]

Originally Posted by security guy

i've always took a sharp razor blade and cut a small 'x' into the carpet where the bolt will come up through. I don't think you want to run a drill bit through the carpet. That could cause some problems.

ditto!!

[bigsnookmaster]

Sodering iron works great for me!

[bigsnookmaster]

Oops, Soldering