Drilling through carpet

[forestb]

I wold like to drill a hole in some sheet metal that is covered in carpet and insulation. Is there some kind of special drill bit or tool that would allow be to do so?

[SkinnyG]

I've seen people heat up a piece of metal tubing to sear through the carpet where the bolt holes go, which should stop it from catching and unraveling.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

I've seen people heat up a piece of metal tubing to sear through the carpet where the bolt holes go, which should stop it from catching and unraveling.

I use a flame heated soldering iron, but yes same idea.

[Steeveedee]

Go up to the local hardware store and buy a set of hole punches. Punch through the carpet and then drill the holes. Speaking as a guy who as a young 'un wound carpet around a drill bit and stripped a nice bit of carpet...

[oem4me]

No guarantees, but you could try running a standard drill bit in reverse until it burns though the rug and pad, then forward through the metal. I've done this in a pinch, but not my first choice. Good luck!

[geezer#99]

Wrap some electrician’s black tape around it. Leave a 1/4 inch of the bit exposed.

[forestb]

To be on the safe side I might try a combination of these suggestions. Hole punch, heat up the fibers and then wrap the bit in electrical tape. I learned the hard way not to just go for it. I ended up with a broken drill bit that I could not get out of the carpet so I just had to leave it in there. That was years ago and the carpet has sense been replaced.

[vin63]

I use my soldering iron to poke holes through the carpet.

[forestb]

toooo many options

[The Rocknrod]

Not really try one idea on each hole to see how you like it.

[bigmoe]

I clamp a nail in some vice grips, heat up the nail, poke into the carpet and wiggle the nail around to make the hole a bit bigger. Then drill it.

I use the same nail trick from the bottom when there's already a hole in the metal.

[MT65]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

I've seen people heat up a piece of metal tubing to sear through the carpet where the bolt holes go, which should stop it from catching and unraveling.

I have done this many times, 3/8 hardline , bevel the edge, heat it up and it works great….

[Richard]

After a hole is made in the carpet cut a piece of tubing with an inner diameter slightly larger than the drill bit. Tubing should be long enough to hold tight but short enough for bit to go through. Work end of tubing into carpet hole and hold tight to metal while drilling. Not a bad idea to use the same piece of tube to burn a hole through the carpet as previously suggested.

[jweb]

If possible drill from the metal side, hen use a soldering iron or awl to poke the hole through.

[slepysal]

As mentioned an old soldering iron works great. As an added tip use a pick to located your holes then insert hot soldering iron and move it around to make your holes no frayed carpet. This is what I did to install my seats after my carpet install.

[LT1 Burb]

I use a gasket making punch.

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by forestb

I wold like to drill a hole in some sheet metal that is covered in carpet and insulation. Is there some kind of special drill bit or tool that would allow be to do so?

Back in the 60's working at Sears people would buy seat belts for their cars and of course want them installed. I didn't want to use a drill because of the carpet so I asked one of the old boys working there. He went to his tool box and brought back a large round tapered drift about 6-8 inches long, but it right where I wanted the hole and gave it a bid whack. It went through the carpet, pad, and the floor. As a matter of fact I used the same method a few years ago installing seat belts in my 51 sedan. Easy- peasy as they say.

[88Stanger]

i have used a hole punch kit that I heated up with a torch, worked perfect for me.

[franken]

I got the carpet where I wanted it, then from the underside pushed a $4 HF soldering iron up through the bolt holes.