Any tips for drilling through carpet on layout to pass wiring through?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I finally purchased the wiring to start wiring my layout (it’s only a year after the table was finished).

I have indoor/outdoor carpet as the surface of the table. Are there any tips for how to drill holes through the carpet so it doesn’t pull, tear, etc.?

Thanks,

Chris

2

Carpet punch, not a drill.

e.g. http://www.appliedtel.com/Site/Shop/ProductList.aspx?asctgID=37&catgID=4

3

After identifying where to drill I cut a small X with a utility knife with a new blade and drilled thru the center of it. The carpet I am using is secured with carpet tape, full length about 6" apart, and I think that this helped as well.

4

My indoor carpeting is not glued or taped-down, and I have’nt had much problem drilling. I do, however, try to keep the holes to a minimum. In my circus/ammusement area, which involves a lot of wires, I cut a small flap in the carpet, peeled it back, and made a large hole under it. I also run/hide wires under my FasTrack to central locations. In other words, try not to have a separate hole for every wiring need. Joe

5

I have carpeting on my layout and have had trouble with fibers wrapping around the drill bit and pulling out strands of carpet fibers. I developed a technique that works pretty good. Press real hard with the drill and only operate the drill until it breaks through the plywood, then stop and pull the drill out. If you drill at a moderate speed and notice that fibers are winding around the bit, stop pull it out and cut the fibers off with a scissors.

6

Dave,

Didn’t realize you had a carpet underlayment on your exceptional layout. With all of the action I saw taking place on the layout in your videos, you could have had topless women walking around the perimeter of the layout and I wouldn’t have noticed. Thanks again for inspiring us.

Jack

7

Thank you very much for all the suggestions!

I did not know such a thing as a carpet punch existed.

Chris

8

you need to be an installer with bad knees[;)]

9

I know this may sound crazy, but it has worked for me in other projects and also works when drilling through plexiglass, put your drill in reverse ( YES, REVERSE! ) direction and drill. What happens is that the carpet fibers are being heated and at the same time the carpet fibers are being pushed back down instead of being pulled up your drill bit. Just be careful that you don’t try to drill too big a hole at once or you could possibly overheat the carpet. When heating the carpet fibers with the drill in reverse it usually will melt the fibers where the bit contacts it and will open up a litte extra spot around the carpet. When you get through the carpet then you should have enough clearance around your bit to put your drill direction in forward to drill through your plywood or other material with no trouble. If doing plexiglass keep your drill in reverse direction with light pressure until you get through the plexiglass and it doesn’t fracture the plexiglass like trying to drill it in forward direction. I just joined up to the forum and have gotten lot of great ideas from all of you and hope I can help some of you out with this one in return. I purchased the NASCAR starter set and Tony Stewart expansion set in Feb. 08, added the figure 8 expansion set , extra 5, 10, & 30 inch straights, and 45’s curves, and as of now have a figure 8 ( standard size ) inside an 96 x 51-1/4 inch ( center rail measurements ) on a 4 ft. 8 in. x 8 ft. 6 in. board set up to Maximun space to work with as I have walls on 3 sides so I can only go up so I plan to elevate my back section up to create a loop over the first level. Thanks for all the info I found in the forum from all of you who have been there, done that, and what works, and what doesn’t work. It really helps us new people out and I thank you all.

Sincerely, sparks 32

10

I’ve used a screwdriver to punch a hole in the carpet before laying it down.

11

What I do is cut a slit in the carpet then using needle nose pliers spred the opening and push a short piece of copper tubing through the slit. This holds the carpet back. Then drill inside the tubing the surface below. I’ve also done it without the tube stub, just using the needle nose to spred the carpet, but it become a three handed task.

Jim