Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi what tool does people use too drill that perfect hole in there cage. Any info would be great thanks.

Do you mean a large hole for a vent or for cords to pass through or do you mean a hole as in to counter-sink a screw?
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

yes I wanted to find a way to drill a large hole on top of the cage so I can place a heatlamp there. TY

That's a bit more difficult. Probably the best large circles I have seen cut were with circle cutting jigs used with a router. I think they also make circle cutting jigs for those Roto-Zip tools.

Last time I cut a circle I just traced a large circle and cut the hole with a jig saw, taking my time and not forcing the saw.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I use a hole saw for the larger holes....

example here
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I cheated. I made a square hole and put screen over it and set the heat lamp on top. But that probably doesn't help you out much.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

You can usually find hole saws at tool outlet stores, such as Harbor Freight or Northern Tool.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Pueblan Hypo
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.1.0 California King Blue-eyed Blond
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

>>Hi what tool does people use too drill that perfect hole in there cage. Any info would be great thanks.

1/8" - 1/2" = Drill Bit
1/2" - 1" = Spade bit or Forstner bit
1" - 4" = Hole Saw (what Dave linked)
4" - 12" = Circle attachment for my Dremel
12" and beyond I will either free hand or cut a guide for a router either way its free hand at one point. I use a custom compass for large circles.

I also have axcess to a machine shop for precise guides!

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne
Owner
JB Reptile
www.jbreptile.com **Coming Soon**

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Motley Het Anery **In aquisition**
1.0 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.0 Ghost RTB **coming soon**
1.0 Hypomelenistic RTB
1.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child

n/a

The problem with using a circle cutting jig to cut large holes in an object with a router/roto-zip type tool is that as you near the end of the cut center becomes unstable and the bit begins to wander.

Best solution I have found for this is to use double sided foam tape to stick a piece of scrap like MDF to the bottom to hold the center piece in place while the cut is made. Set the depth of your bit so it just penetrates the material being cut but not through the scrap piece.