Carpeting

[SmithKid]

Anybody got any HOT TIPS on how to make small holes in the carpeting/floor pad without pulling the loops from the carpet or winding a big bunch of fiber on a drill bit when drilling through the pad. I'm referring to the seat belt bolts and the bolts that hold the seat in. Don't want to ruin new carpet/pad!

[redfalken]

Take a piece of copper pipe the diameter you want, heat it with a propane torch and push it through where you want the hole. It melts right through and melts the edges at the same time. Twist it as you go through and take it out quickly before it cools too much.

[SmithKid]

Seems like a good tip to me, Kenny! I'll give it a shot. I suspect I may want to have the garage well ventilated.

[Luva65wagon]

Well I too will have to give this one a try. I suppose with the smaller holes you could do something similar, but with some smaller diameter copper (hobby shops have that). I use my Weller soldering gun for things like this in the past, but hey, I'm willing to try new things too!

I'd probably mark the spots with a soap stone and then pull it away as you do it.

Hey Gene, on another note, I finally have some microswitches, so while I'm off work over the next week I'm going to get those mounted up for you. You probably need them I suppose. :D

[redfalken]

It does get a little smelly but goes away pretty quick. I think for the seatbelt bolt holes I used some 1/4" pipe which makes about a 3/8" hole. Maybe for holes where small screws go through you could use a thick rod. I would keep twisting it around until it cools a little so it doesn't fill in with melted plastic.

I also find an awl is very useful to poke around and find the holes through the carpeting. For the seatbelt holes you can actually poke through from underneath and just leave the awl hanging there. Then when you poke the hot pipe through the carpet from above, just use the pointed end of the awl that is poking through as a guide.

[SmithKid]

My carpet liner is installed with spray adhesive, so I don't want to lift it. I think I'll wait until I have the carpet in place and attempt it all with one swell foop. I should have the carpet in place in the next week or so, and will let you know how it works. I'm betting it's a great tip.
Gene

[Nathan289]

I use a soldering iron.. same idea though

Nathan