drilling through carpet

robbz28 · Jan 2, 2011

Kind of a silly subject, but there has got to be a trick to drilling a hole through the carpet & underlay without getting a big wad of underlay wrapped around the drill bit. I am trying to tap some holes in the tunnel for my console and of course I need to do this with the carpet in there, anyone got an old indian trick to make this work?

pyroman · Jan 2, 2011

First thing that comes to mind is to take a utility knife and cut an "X" through the carpet and underlay down to the metal that way you won't actually be drilling the carpet.

robbz28 · Jan 2, 2011

yeah, i have thought of that, also while sitting here I thought about just cutting a slit instead of an X and then putting a shor piece of small 1/8 pipe (just to hold the carpet out of my way) and then drill through the floorboard...

robbz28 · Jan 3, 2011

but will one of those fabric punches go through the carpet and the insulation and the underlay? It would take a serious blow to get through all of that and not beat up the floor pan in the process. I like the soldering iron idea, if it will melt the insulation as well, I am having to go through 5/8-3/4 of an inch of materials, i can probably compress it to 3/8 when i finally get a screw through it.

pabear89 · Jan 3, 2011

I have found the best way to locate and make screw/bolt holes thru the carpet and such, Is using a cotterpin tool to locate the hole center.
Then a hot soldering iron to make a neat hole thru the carpet and underlayment. I have used it for screws to seatbelt bolts with great results.

other_shoe · Jan 3, 2011

These will come in very handy when I replace the carpet this Spring. I put a big run in the last one when screwing in the back of the door sill plates.

2+2GT · Jan 3, 2011

OK, ya'll don't seriously think they did all that at the factory, right? Yet carpet pulls were not a problem.

Solution? Same for whether you are making a new hole, such as adding a console, or finding an old one, when replacing the carpet.

Use an awl and mallet. Fast, easy, requires no heat, no carpet pulls, and finds old holes.

robbz28 · Jan 3, 2011

God love ya 2+2, always there with what is possibly the best answer that makes us all say "duhhhh" and with a picture....I think i'll head to the hardware store tomorrow and pick me one up.

PoppyMod · Jan 4, 2011

What has consistently worked for me, is using a pencil point soldering iron and cauterizing each screw hole. I use tan awl to locate the holes through the mounting points, the carpet and the metal.
Happy Motoring!

2+2GT · Jan 4, 2011

I guarantee the carpet in this car was not pierced with anything hot.

Yours for only $145,000 (BIN) or whatever it brings at auction.

PoppyMod · Jan 4, 2011

That is one beautiful ride!

2+2GT · Jan 4, 2011

PoppyMod said:
That is one beautiful ride!

Built from trash. It's real, though, which made it worth fixing. Here's "before".

PoppyMod · Jan 4, 2011

That's a study in tenacity!
Nice, very nice work.

65springtime · Jan 8, 2011

Wow, that is some transformation. Just a beautiful job. Really hard to believe that is the same car. But like you said "it is worth it".

65springtime · Jan 8, 2011

The more I look at the befor picture, the more I say to myself-why did they let if get in that bad of shape? Some people just do not take care of things. Or was it a Chop Shop?

2+2GT · Jan 8, 2011

65springtime said:
The more I look at the befor picture, the more I say to myself-why did they let if get in that bad of shape? Some people just do not take care of things. Or was it a Chop Shop?

No, it went out west when new, even made a speed run at Bonneville. Driven for years, came back about 15-20 years ago on a tow, already rusty. Taken apart for restoration, shop and/or owner were in over their heads, the body hung on a rotisserie, but all the parts were out in the weather.

68RCodeConv · Jan 18, 2011

Instead of punching I melt the holes in the carpet. This seals the edges to prevent runners and makes it EASY to find the hole.

Get a drill bit the size of the hole you want. Put a piece of rubber hose on the sharp end. Use a propane torch to heat the butt end just barely red hot. Place it on the carpet and melt on through. I put a piece of masking tape on the carpet with the hole location marked and burn right through the tape.

I even used a 1/2" bit and burned the holes for the seat belts. It took me a couple of heat cycles but it worked great. Burned right through the underlayment also.

Flying Dutchman · Jan 19, 2011

I use a wood burning tool perfect size holes for seat belts, sonsoles, seats.

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