Drill hole in carbon tube. How?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
User avatar
Zak
Posts: 781
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:43 pm
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, Earth, Universe
Contact:

by Zak

Hi,

I need to drill a small hole in a carbon tube. How do I do that without damaging the tube?

thanks

boolinwall
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:19 pm

by boolinwall

DON"T!lol

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



DaveS
Posts: 3921
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:26 pm
Location: Loveland Colorado

by DaveS

Any sharp drill bit with an electric hand drill will work on CF. If you needed to drill hundreds of holes, a carbide bit would probably last longer than the ordinary high speed steel or TiN coated hihgh speed steel. CF is abrasive and wears cutting tools quickly.

User avatar
Zak
Posts: 781
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:43 pm
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, Earth, Universe
Contact:

by Zak

Thanks DaveS, it's just one hole so I will keep it simple.

davidalone
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:27 pm

by davidalone

be sure to GO SLOW. you could cause stress concentration and cracking if you try to take it too fast.

weeracerweenie
Posts: 500
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:48 am

by weeracerweenie

Light pressure, med/high speed works best, if you push to hard it will split the back out (splinters really) and looks crud...

Show us what your working on? :thumbup:
I guess there's worse hobbies than making a bike light? Right?

Vjl
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:14 pm

by Vjl

I always drill a small hole first then, with a sharp file open hole to size i need.
If you use a new file it will do way less damage to the carbon in the inside where you cant see.

latman
Posts: 123
Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:44 pm

by latman

If the tube is very thin/fragile you may want to make up a small "doubler" piece and drill through that so the strength remains (like the diamond device that surrounded water bottle bolt holes) as some fibres will be broken by the drilling

thisisatest
Shop Owner
Posts: 1980
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:02 am
Location: NoVA/DC

by thisisatest

You can get a set of abrasive diamond coated needle files from places like HarborFreight super cheap. risk of splintering with those is almost zero.

sigismond0
Posts: 235
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:29 pm

by sigismond0

Another thing you will probably want to do is make a jig for drilling at an angle, asuming you're drilling for cables or the like. What exactly are you doing this for?

You can use a small block of wood, drill a pilot hole at an angle in the block of wood, then secure that to the frame and drill a pilot hole into the frame through the block. Then re-drill the block at your desired size and repeat against the frame.

Overall, I'm not so sure I'd recommend drilling a carbon frame unless you really know what you're doing.

natiedean24
Posts: 380
Joined: Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:16 pm
Location: Austin, Texas
Contact:

by natiedean24

Don't be scared. Take your time. Go for it!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply