How to enlarge an existing hole in sheet metal ceiling?
I already have a 1/4 inch hole in my sheet metal ceiling and I can't pull down the metal sheet because its 20 ft long and I am working alone so there a high possibility that it will kink I try to remove it. I was thinking of using a step drill bit to enlarge the hole from 1/4 to to 1 inch but the sheet metal is fasten to 1x4 strapping and since the 1 inch size is towards the end of the step drill bit, I am afraid that it will puncture the vapor barrier since there is not enough room above the sheet metal, the drill bit will stick out too far into the ceiling. One option, could be to buy the cheapest step drill bit that I can find around $20-$30 and use the grinder and cut the bit down to only the sizes I need so it will be a lot shorter and won't stick out as far in the ceiling once I have enlarged the hole,. So I wanted to try the double hole saw trick and put a 1 inch hole saw on the drill bit arbor and a 1/4 inch inside of it so it will guide it to make the hole, but with the hole saw kit that I have, there is not enough thread sticking out past the first saw to screw the second one onto the arbor, could anyone recommended hole saws that I can purchase that you are certain that it works having 2 saws on the one arbor? I can't make a jig to guide the hole saw since I can't clamp the jig piece since I can't access both sides of the ceiling. I didn't want to enlarge the hole with tin snips as it will make the jagged edge so I was thinking maybe cutting it with a rotary tool and a cutting disc but I didn't know if that could generate too much heat or with the sparks, could it ignite a fire? since there is wood strapping and a plastic vapor barrier, I wasn't sure. A reciprocating saw would have too long of a stroke that I think I would definitely penetrate the vapor barrier if I would try it unless I purchase a pneumatic mini reciprocating saw, I think the stroke on those is quite short but I only have a 6 gallon pancake air compressor so i am not sure if it would run it. I have 3 holes that I need to enlarge in the metal ceiling, so I would gladly appreciate any suggestions you might have. submitted by /u/johnnyh55 [link] [comments]
I already have a 1/4 inch hole in my sheet metal ceiling and I can't pull down the metal sheet because its 20 ft long and I am working alone so there a high possibility that it will kink I try to remove it. I was thinking of using a step drill bit to enlarge the hole from 1/4 to to 1 inch but the sheet metal is fasten to 1x4 strapping and since the 1 inch size is towards the end of the step drill bit, I am afraid that it will puncture the vapor barrier since there is not enough room above the sheet metal, the drill bit will stick out too far into the ceiling.
One option, could be to buy the cheapest step drill bit that I can find around $20-$30 and use the grinder and cut the bit down to only the sizes I need so it will be a lot shorter and won't stick out as far in the ceiling once I have enlarged the hole,.
So I wanted to try the double hole saw trick and put a 1 inch hole saw on the drill bit arbor and a 1/4 inch inside of it so it will guide it to make the hole, but with the hole saw kit that I have, there is not enough thread sticking out past the first saw to screw the second one onto the arbor, could anyone recommended hole saws that I can purchase that you are certain that it works having 2 saws on the one arbor?
I can't make a jig to guide the hole saw since I can't clamp the jig piece since I can't access both sides of the ceiling.
I didn't want to enlarge the hole with tin snips as it will make the jagged edge so I was thinking maybe cutting it with a rotary tool and a cutting disc but I didn't know if that could generate too much heat or with the sparks, could it ignite a fire? since there is wood strapping and a plastic vapor barrier, I wasn't sure.
A reciprocating saw would have too long of a stroke that I think I would definitely penetrate the vapor barrier if I would try it unless I purchase a pneumatic mini reciprocating saw, I think the stroke on those is quite short but I only have a 6 gallon pancake air compressor so i am not sure if it would run it.
I have 3 holes that I need to enlarge in the metal ceiling, so I would gladly appreciate any suggestions you might have.
[link] [comments]
