fbpx
DrillsDrills Knowledgebase

How To Drill Through Epoxy (6 DIY Steps)

TheToolGeeks.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs.   We may earn from qualifying purchases.  (Learn More).

To drill through the epoxy, the main thing is the selection of the right tools and determining the nature of the material it’s embedded on. If you don’t choose the right tool that suits the surface material you ruin the epoxy. That’s why we’re here to guide you with a detailed guide on how to drill through epoxy. 

We’ll also highlight some tips to play safely, fast, and accurately. 

Which Drill and Bits Should You Use for Drilling Epoxy?

Regular Drill

The selection of the drill depends on the material that is covered with epoxy. If you’re dealing with epoxy over wood, plastic, and fiberglass, a regular drill (corded or cordless) will do your job. 

The regular drills spin and apply torque, while the hammer drills spin while striking. It works like dusting the material and making its space into metal, wood, or whatever material you can use. 

You can use the regular drills for small holes and increase the bits gradually for large holes. 

Hammer Drill 

If you plan to drill epoxy over the metal or concrete surface, proceed with a hammer drill. As the name suggests, a hammer drill gives jerks in the direction of your drill bit (just like a hammer). So, it works best on rigid surfaces, such as bricks and concrete. 

Drill Bits 

Like a drill machine, you also need to choose the drill bit based on the material the epoxy is used on. If epoxy is used on wood, the wooden bits will work fine and make holes. 

However, if epoxy is used on metal or any other hard material, you must choose the carbide bit to drill a hole. 

However, you may want to drill just epoxy. In that case, we recommend using a solid, steel-tipped drill bit to drill into epoxy or hard resin, as epoxy is a sturdy material that is unlikely to crack or damage your drill bit.

How To Drill Through Epoxy?

Drilling through epoxy is easy. You just need to have a drill and you are good to go.

Epoxy doesn’t need a great deal of specific equipment. It doesn’t crack easily, and most of your care is based on hiding the drill hole when the job is done. Because of this, you can approach it in the same way you would wood or any other similar material.

1. Gathering the Correct Equipment

Still, gathering the correct equipment and understanding its use is best before starting a job with epoxy. Understand your tools and make the most of your time using them.

The things you need while drilling is:

  • Drill & drill bits.
  • A piece of epoxy or a template. 
  • Dust mask to avoid the dust going into your mouth. 
  • Goggles to avoid dust or any particles getting into your eye
  • Working gloves and ear protection to prevent noise and injury. 
  • Measuring Tape
  • Lubricant or water to cool down the surface

2. Locate and mark the drill point 

Using a measuring tape, determine the exact location(s) of the hole(s). Use a pen or marker to mark a point before drilling. If you plan to drill multiple holes, keep all required holes now. If everything is ready, drilling will be a quick sequence.

Next, use the tape measure to set a boundary around the drilling area. It will help you locate the place you want to drill (if you’re going to take a rest and come back later)

Related Read — How to Drill Into Rocks?

3. Attach the drill bit to the Drill Machine

Attach the drill bit using these steps:

  • In the drill, locate the chuck. It is part of the drill bit that holds the drill bit.
  • You can loosen the chuck by turning it counterclockwise.
  • You must ensure the bit shank is alleged with Chuck’s jaw. (insert the drill into the chuck). 
  • To tighten it, you can turn the cuck clockwise. It helps in preventing the drill from slipping). 
  • Some drills have keyed chucks; for those drills, you need to use a key to tighten the chuck. 

4. Starting to Drill

Taking your drill in hand, ensure you have a clean workspace free from hazards. Hold the drill over the epoxy and press the drill bit’s tip to the material. 

Never apply pressure on starting; It will stop the teeth of the drill from dragging against the material. Dragging leads to chips, splinters, and breaks. 

Sometimes the drill gets overheated, which can lead to melting the material. To avoid this situation, use water as a lubricant to keep it cool and give it some breaks.

Quick Tip: To reduce the risk of cracking, you should start with a small drill bit and work your way up. It will create a gradually growing hole that will be clean and easy to work with.

5. Repeating the Process

Repeat the process of drilling with a slightly larger bit.  When you make your second (or subsequent) attempt at drilling, follow the process similarly. Drill slowly initially, speed up, apply lubricant (if needed), and slow down for the exit.

If you keep increasing your drill bits’ size, there is no reason your resin should crack.

6. Cleaning Up the Material

Following our small-then-large drill bit technique, the finish should be fine. If you are worried about loose chips or splinters of epoxy, you can use fine sandpaper to rub around the outside of the drilled hole.

Don’t apply your sandpaper to the face of the material. That will lead to scuffed finishes and unprofessional finishes. Aside from melting it down or sanding the entire project, fixing big mistakes on the face can be extremely difficult to remove.

Our Tips to Drill Through Epoxy

Safety First

Epoxy is plastic and can cause long-term lung damage if breathed in. We recommend that you wear the correct safety gear. You will also be using a power drill; you must understand how to use it safely.

Safety of yourself

Your eyes are essential tools in your trade, so you must protect them at all costs. That means wearing appropriate eye protection. Even though it is unlikely that a piece of epoxy will jump up from the sheet you are using, you must take proper care. 

One stray piece and you could have a severe injury on your hands. Similarly, drills spit out great deals of dust. In the epoxy resin project, you will work on many toxins that are fine in finished products but bad for humans. 

Safety from drill

Similarly, remember your basic drill safety. You should never put your hands near the bit while it moves; ideally, apply the lock when changing bits. If your drill does not have a lock, consider removing the battery or turning off the power supply. 

(This is specifically: if you have a particularly old piece of equipment).

Use Drill template

Epoxy is an excellent material for its durability. You must do very little preparation for the material when drilling through it. 

However, you should follow these steps to get the best hole. 

Use template

Using a drill template means less room for movement when you’re starting. It will save on causing irreversible damage to the material. Damage is wasted materials, money, and time. Take the proper time to get ready.

If you want to use a drill template, hold it in place onto the epoxy. As you will only be using this for a small drill into the surface of the resin, you should be able to apply suitable pressure using only your hand. You can also choose a small clamp to stop it from unnecessary movements. 

Conclusion

Epoxy is a hard material; you need a good drill and drill bits to work on the material easily. This article has already discussed all the steps and procedures to follow. That will help you get your desired requirements without damaging anything. 

A little summary: Use a variety of drill bits of varying sizes throughout your drilling process. To begin with, you want to drill through the sheet with a tiny bit and then make this hole larger and larger. 

To avoid: If you start too big, you will cause the drill bit to drag against your epoxy. That can damage your piece significantly and leave you with wasted materials.

Aside from our advice about drill bits, there is little else to worry about. Take your time with the material and consider how the hole will look. If you have a clear piece of epoxy, you may want to find an angle to hide the white drill mark. That is possible if you drill along the piece instead of straight through.

FAQs About Drilling Through Epoxy

Does Epoxy Ever Crack When You Are Drilling Through It?

However, it is wise to start with a tiny drill bit and build up in size. Starting too big can cause splintering, chipping, and cracks, ruining your project. Take your time; you will not be frustrated by sloppy preparation in the long run. 

How to use: 

Using a tiny drill bit, make an initial hole through the material. When this hole is completed, you can take away the small drill bit and then use a larger one over the top of it. This process of gradually building up the size of the holes will ensure that you don’t crack or chip your epoxy and give you a professional finish.

Do I Need to Use a Specific Drill Bit With Epoxy?

No. Just use whatever you use to drill into wood or any other common material. Epoxy is hardy and can take much abuse. As long as you are sensible with the size of the hole you are boring, you are unlikely to cause severe damage to the material.

Instead of specific bits, you should invest in a series of smaller to larger bits. Using incrementally larger drill bits will mean that you can be sure you aren’t going to crack your material. The smaller holes make it easier for your drill to work through the material. If the material behind the proxy is very rigid (metal or concrete wall or floor)

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

We’re a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

The Tool Geeks Team

We're a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.