# Drilling through particle board **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850 "2015-04-16T17:45:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/1 "2015-04-16T17:45:02Z")
Stupid question time! I’m no stranger to tools, but I’m not a handyman either. I need to drill a 5/8" hole through the top of a particle board cabinet. The application: I bought a mod to hook my SodaStream up to a 10 lb CO2 tank. My girlfriend has mandated that the CO2 tank must be hidden, so I bought a Sauder stand-alone cabinet. The tank will go inside, the SodaStream on top, with the hose running up through the top of the cabinet into the bottom of the SodaStream. I’ve never drilled a hole through particle board, and I’m nervous about mucking it up. I know how fragile it is, I’m afraid it will shatter or something, or I’ll wind up with a big crack in the finish. Or something. I’ve Googled a bit, but all the hits I’m getting are for pre-drilling screw holes, or cutting 2" or bigger holes. What’s the best way to do this? I’ve got several drill bits. They’re old, but I don’t think they’ve seen a tremendous amount of use. I don’t know how sharp they are. And, the biggest one is 1/4". I’m hoping not to have to make a trip to Home Depot, but I’m not sure trying to hollow out a 5/8" hole with a 1/4" drill bit is such a hot idea. I don’t have any power tools aside from my drill. And, should I place masking tape over where I plan to drill the hole? Would that help to keep the finish intact? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/2 "2015-04-16T17:49:07Z")
Drill from the “good” side. Use very light pressure as the bit exits the hole, and you want get any significant chipping. If you buy a new 5/8" spade bit, it will cut a very clean hole - just go slowly until it catches - don’t let it twist the drill out of your hands. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/3 "2015-04-16T17:51:50Z")
Get two pieces of scrap wood (try to find real wood, not PB). Clamp them on each side of the PB. Start with a smaller bit (1/16"), drill hole thru, use progressively larger bits until you have the right size hole in the PB. Put the clamps as close to where you’re drilling as possible. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/4 "2015-04-16T18:27:31Z")
Holy crap! DO NOT put any kind of tape on the finished side; it will pull the finish right off. I Scotch taped Xmas cards to our entertainment center once–bad idea! Use a piece of cardboard if you are going to follow my suggestions. If you do go get a spade bit, disregard the multiple bit dealie I said previously. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/5 "2015-04-16T18:27:53Z")
If you’re going to be running a hose through the hole you should put a grommet in the hole so the hose doesn’t rub against any sharp edges. Then you don’t have to worry as much about getting a clean hole. I agree with burpo’s idea of clamping scrap wood to keep the hole from blowing out. You may be able to get a clean entry hole but you won’t get a clean exit hole unless you use a scrap to prevent blowout. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/6 "2015-04-16T18:46:15Z")
mark the center of where the hole will go. use a small (1/8") drill bit or finishing nail to put a small hole for the center. with your brand new 5/8" spade bit start a hole from the top, stop when 1/4" in. go to the center hole and doo the same from the bottom. then finish the hole from the top good side. this method will cut the surface on both sides so tear out isn’t an issue. you need to drill slowly without tremedous force in particle board, just keep the bit cutting. clamping a board to the surfaces isn’t always possible, especially with an already finished cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/7 "2015-04-16T18:47:57Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > mark the center of where the hole will go. > > use a small (1/8") drill bit or finishing nail to put a small hole for the center. > > with your brand new 5/8" spade bit start a hole from the top, stop when 1/4" in. go to the center hole and doo the same from the bottom. then finish the hole from the top good side. > > this method will cut the surface on both sides so tear out isn’t an issue. > > you need to drill slowly without tremedous force in particle board, just keep the bit cutting. > > clamping a board to the surfaces isn’t always possible, especially with an already finished cabinet. This method has always worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/8 "2015-04-16T18:58:43Z")
Just to be uber clear for our OP: > [@johnpost](#): > > mark the center of where the hole will go. > > use a small (1/8") drill bit or finishing nail to put a small hole for the center. **Drill all the way through to the other side. Drill with gentle pressure and at low-medium speed**. > > with your brand new 5/8" spade bit start a hole from the top, stop when 1/4" in. go to the center hole and doo the same from the bottom. then finish the hole from the top good side. > … Added bold part mine. Other than that nitpick for clarity, \*\*johnpost \*\*totally nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/9 "2015-04-16T18:59:54Z")
> [@Gus\_Gusterson](#): > > If you’re going to be running a hose through the hole you should put a grommet in the hole so the hose doesn’t rub against any sharp edges. Will I be able to get a grommet at Home Depot as well? > [@johnpost](#): > > mark the center of where the hole will go. > > use a small (1/8") drill bit or finishing nail to put a small hole for the center. > > with your brand new 5/8" spade bit start a hole from the top, stop when 1/4" in. go to the center hole and doo the same from the bottom. then finish the hole from the top good side. > > this method will cut the surface on both sides so tear out isn’t an issue. > > you need to drill slowly without tremedous force in particle board, just keep the bit cutting. > > clamping a board to the surfaces isn’t always possible, especially with an already finished cabinet. Yeah, I just finished putting the cabinet together, and I don’t have any scrap wood, nor anything to clamp it down with. I think I’ll try this method. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/10 "2015-04-16T19:31:21Z")
Oops - shoulda paid closer attention to the instructions on this cabinet. This thing is designed to be stackable. There is already a 1/4" hole in the underside of the top, in an acceptable location. It appears to go all the way through the particle board, but not the finish. The instructions say, using a screwdriver from the underside, to use extra force to punch through the finish when attaching another unit on top. I can punch a hole through the finish with a nail, but now I’m worried that if I use a 5/8" drill bit on the top, it’s gonna tear up the finish until it grabs the particle board. Should I use a 1/4" bit first, to make the hole through the finish “match up” with the hole through the particle board? Sorry for all these idiotic questions… I only get one shot at this, and I wanna do it right. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/11 "2015-04-16T19:52:29Z")
Going back to the grommet idea, I’m looking at [this](http://www.homedepot.com/p/CE-TECH-2-in-Furniture-Hole-Cover-Black-2-INCH-FURNITURE-HOLE-COVER-BLACK/203717771), which would require making a much bigger hole in my cabinet. How would that change things? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/12 "2015-04-16T20:14:28Z")
Do NOT try to drill the existing hole larger. That is certain doom. Drill a fresh one of the needed size nearby. IMO any grommet is overkill. There’s not going to be much movement of the various parts. And unlike in a car or boat there’s not going to be continuous vibration. So just gently sand the edges of the hole so there’s no sharp spots or would-be splinters & enjoy your soda. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-through-particle-board/717850/13 "2015-04-16T20:20:12Z")
Ok, noted. And I suppose you’re right about the grommet. The SodaStream will cover the whole thing anyway, so the hole doesn’t need to look pretty.