non-drill method for boreing out water holes in plastic tubs

[kranser]

Hi,

I regularly buy plastic tubs, and am annoyed that quite a lot of them do not have the water holes already cut out.

I'm not too great with an electric drill - and would prefer a method that doesn't require mains plug in - so does anyone know what's best to use to bore out the holes? Is there such a thing as a manual drill - or is there a better solution?

Thanks,
Kranser.

[alan refail]

Is there such a thing as a manual drill - or is there a better solution?

Hi Kranser, my young friend.

Yes indeedie: a hand drill




or better, a brace and bit





Hope you don't mind my assuming your youth; I am one of those oldies, like some others on the forum, who can well remember the days before universal electricity for all tools

[Compo]

A metal skewer or rod heated up will do it, just melts through like butter and stops some of the cracking that drilling sometimes causes, heat the skewer on a burner of some kind and grip it with molegrips or pliers

[Mike Vogel]

You've both given the three methods that I use. I also use a bradawl sometimes.

[kranser]

Thanks for your very helpful reply Alan. I have now obtained a hand drill, and it works really well with plastic tubs. The biggest drill bit I got was 5mm - which I think should be just about big enough to provide good drainage when drilling the 5 marked areas on the base of the tub. Yes Alan, I don't think I'm old enough to remember the days before electric tools.

Now- my next question, why do the 4 corners of the tub protrude lower than the rest of bottom of the tub - and why are there no marked areas for drainage holes on the corners I wonder? It water supposed to accumulate in the 4 corners?

The heated rod solution seems like a really good idea too - the problem is getting it heated in the first place.

Thank you for your help,
Steve.

[Elle's Garden]

A metal skewer or rod heated up will do it, just melts through like butter and stops some of the cracking that drilling sometimes causes, heat the skewer on a burner of some kind and grip it with molegrips or pliers

Brilliant Compo, because I can't find the charger for my cordless drill at the moment, but I can heat up a drill bit or skewer! Thanks!

[Monika]

I always use the heated metal skewer method, Compo, and it works very well. Sometimes decorative pots don't have holes (like the ones for spring bulbs) and you can customise them with holes for other plantings.

On the corners protruding lower on the tubs, kranser: it's to make sure that the tub doesn't sit flat on the surface, say, tarmac or flags, and any surplus water can drain out of the holes unhindered.