Drilling Through Aluminum Siding

Minimizing the amount of pressure that you exert on the drill bit will prevent the siding from denting and reduce the chances of the drill bit catching on the thin aluminum that comprises the siding.

Drilling through aluminum siding. In general it s a good idea to drill through metal using as slow a speed as possible using a drill bit for metal. The chuck on a hand drill or drill press secures a drill bit to the tool along the bit s shank. However drilling through cement fiber siding goes better if you use a carbide drill bit as opposed to a regular steel drill bit. However even though aluminum is relatively easy to work with you still have to be careful about drilling through it.

So with that in mind. Check out a demo of housecall pro here. Fit a cordless drill with a standard wood bit about 1 16 inch larger than the screw if you re drilling through vinyl or steel siding. Although the siding does not require drilling pilot holes you may need to run wire or cable through the siding necessitating drilling a hole.

With a small twist bit 1 16 in. Step 6 reverse the direction of the drill motor after making the hole and slowly work it through the vinyl siding while pulsing the drill as you pull it outward. Use a carbide or masonry bit if the siding is a composite or. Cement fiber siding can be drilled while installed on a house or.

And heat dulls bits quickly. Https amzn to 2vnnzuy milwaukee hawg bits. More powerful drills for heavier applications have a larger 1 2 inch chuck. If maintaining hole size finish and hole roundness are the goals using a straight flute through coolant drill is advantageous.

However since aluminum is so soft drilling operations using the aforementioned geometry tend to present difficulties in maintaining proper hole diameter and sidewall surface finish. If you are drilling a large diameter hole with a hole saw take care to avoid the hole saw from catching and causing irreparable damage to the siding. Release the siding when the drill bit is through it and apply pressure to the drill to continue drilling through the surface behind the siding. To 3 16 in you can drill through most metals at 3 000 rpm.

The siding is fire resistant providing a high level of protection for a home. Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. Hardieplank is available as ready to paint or with a color layer.