Cleanly drilling Holes through dense Rubber - Advice?

[Submariner1]

I need to Cleanly drill 8mm Holes through a 25mm deep (dense rubber) Ice Hockey Puck.
(Changing to bigger rear wheels) so need to raise the front AV Pads)

anyone ever drilled this kind of material?
- only ask as I don't have any spares, so would rather know before; if one needs any special type/profile of bit?
- Is this better drilled at high speed or low speed. I assume low speed? To avoid melting or will that grab rather than cut?

Only got a small pillar drill and usual HSS steel drill bits, and some cobalt drill bits for stainless.

the discs to be drilled are in photo below under the wheels.

 

[EM1L4]

I need to Cleanly drill 8mm Holes through a 25mm deep (dense rubber) Ice Hockey Puck.
(Changing to bigger rear wheels) so need to raise the front AV Pads)

anyone ever drilled this kind of material?
- only ask as I don't have any spares, so would rather know before; if one needs any special type/profile of bit?
- Is this better drilled at high speed or low speed. I assume low speed? To avoid melting or will that grab rather than cut?

Only got a small pillar drill and usual HSS steel drill bits, and some cobalt drill bits for stainless.

the discs to be drilled are in photo below under the wheels.

I’d sandwich the rubber between two pieces of wood then drill straight through the wood and rubber (taking care the puk is in the centre) for what you are using it for, I can’t imagine it needs to be perfect!

the wood will help prevent tear out...

+use a new sharp drill bit at medium speed

 

[Farside]

Why not just drill new axle holes?

 

[mike os]

freeze it?

 

[JEZGUZ]

+1 for freezing and use water as a lubricant. I'd try and get some tube of the right diameter and sharpen the end so it acts like a circular knife, if you get what I mean but still use water as lube

 

[cheb]

Theoretical for me, I've never done it, but I'd start with a lip and spur wood drill bit.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I’d sandwich the rubber between two pieces of wood then drill straight through the wood and rubber (taking care the puk is in the centre) for what you are using it for, I can’t imagine it needs to be perfect!

the wood will help prevent tear out...

+use a new sharp drill bit at medium speed

This.

 

[Screwdriver]

I'd go with all of the above. Make sure the rubber is chilled, pre drill some holes in sheet steel/solid wood (not ply), use a good sharp wood bit (a decent sharp metal cutting bit might suffice).

It will want to grab and it will want to lift and the drill will want to stall. You should find out as soon as you start the cut if you should be faster or slower. You may also discover the "puck" has something else in its core.

 

[PhillipM]

I always use holesaws, twist drills tend to just move it around

 

[voipio]

Rubber bung hole punch. Not clean holes, but better than drilling.

 

[waddycall]

If it was me I’d make a spacer to go between the existing bit of rubber and the bracket but I like an easy life.

 

[500e]

Used water as lube when cutting conveyor belt Made drills out of SS tube & sharpened end to knife then filed a few teeth

 

[nickk]

Heat a piece of steel of the correct diameter and wiggle it thru.This was 25mm thick,but only 10 diameter.

 

[Kram]

Sharp tube in drill and twist/press it through. Rubber does not like being drilled by fluted/toothed tools.

 

[roofman]

Heat a piece of steel of the correct diameter and wiggle it thru.This was 25mm thick,but only 10 diameter.View attachment 279956

Love the look on the kids faces here "fire fire fire"

 

[outofthefire]

freeze it?

How often do your tyres freeze?

 

[roofman]

drilling rubber...just ram the blunt drill into it hard turning fast

 

[pedrobedro]

I'd go with a fine tooth hole saw or a punch.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I use these style wood drills when I drill rubber. Rubber is very abrasive on cutting tools.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Make a long hole punch.
Lubricate with petroleum jelly and punch through.

I have a set for the rubber isolating feet on the alternators on Emergency power systems.