Drilling through carpet - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mdshunk · 11-20-2005, 06:05 PM

I don't know how many guys have occasion to drill a hole through carpeting. If you do (or have), you know that you have a 50/50 chance of "unzipping" a thread of carpet across the whole room.

I don't drill through carpeting very much, but I picked up this tool at the supply house a couple of months ago on a whim. I had occasion to use it last week, and it works great. You position it over the carpet, give it a thump with your hand, and then drill straight through the tool. Worked like a charm.

**Teetorbilt** · 11-20-2005, 06:10 PM

I have always used an arch punch or cut an X in the carpet/pad.

mdshunk · 11-20-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teetorbilt

I have always used an arch punch or cut an X in the carpet/pad.

Yes, but I'm a gadget guy. Every person has their own cross to bear. Mine's buying specialized thing-a-ma-jigs that I'll use once in a blue moon.

**Teetorbilt** · 11-20-2005, 07:19 PM

I'm the same and would buy a left handed pipe wrench if I could find one. LOL

Mike Finley · 11-20-2005, 07:40 PM

Okay along the lines of tools that are just marginally beneficial, anybody seen those tools to help you remove the pins from door hinges. I'm seriously ready to waste a little money on 3 or 4 of them and haven't seen them locally. I don't want to order them online if I have to since the shipping will probably be more than the tools.

**Teetorbilt** · 11-20-2005, 08:55 PM

A punch and hammer? I have plenty. Will send you all that you need with a slight markup + s&h. Kidding!

There is a tool for everything but this one got by me.

Mike Finley · 11-20-2005, 09:05 PM

It actually has a little crow bar type thing on one end I believe. I've got plenty of the old standby, punch and hammer, 16d nail and hammer, screw driver and hammers already.

Mike Finley · 11-20-2005, 09:06 PM

Okay you made me have to find one online so you could see what I'm talking about.

mdshunk · 11-20-2005, 09:18 PM

Mike, I have a hinge pin removal story.

I was doing some work behind a door in which people kept coming through (restaraunt kitchen pantry area). I decided that I'd take the door off its hinges and sit it aside, as I'd be working in that spot for a few hours. I worked and worked at the first hinge pin for about 5 minutes with various impliments of distruction, to no avail. It was about time to give up when I noticed that when the door was almost the whole way open, you could see a little set screw through one of the hinge leaves and into the hinge pin. It must have been some kind of tamper proof security hinge pin. Removed the set screw from each hinge pin, and the pins came right out. I'm sure you already knew about those, but I was swearing for a few minutes that those pins were glued in somehow. Live and learn. Luckily, I didn't screw up the first hinge pin... very much.

Mike Finley · 11-20-2005, 10:33 PM

Actually I would have been in the same boat. I've never anything like that either. With my luck I probably would have only notice the little screws after I had already sawed the tops of the pins with a recip saw.

mdshunk · 11-20-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

Actually I would have been in the same boat. I've never anything like that either. With my luck I probably would have only notice the little screws after I had already sawed the tops of the pins with a recip saw.

Okay, now you made me Google something.

Here's a link to the type of hinge I was dealing with. It's at the top of the page.

http://www.statefarm.com/consumer/vh...s/doorhing.htm

Bob Kovacs · 11-21-2005, 08:21 AM

Commonly called an "NRP" hinge, for "non-removable pin". They're very common in commercial work, especially for exterior applications or for areas where you dont want the doors easily taken off of the hinges.

Bob

CGofMP · 11-21-2005, 11:44 PM

Clicked on the State farm link above and saw this:

Quote:

In some parts of the country, like Florida, it is common to see doors swing out. When the door swings outward, the hinge pins are typically exposed on the outside of the house.

Okay... well I am in CCCPalifornia so I may seem a bit naieve, but....

1) Are outward opening doors really common in Florida? (Tetor?)

2) What is the upside? My degree is in Law Enforcement and I woudl think that this would make residential burglaries a very easy, fun and profitable persuit... save for the fact that so many Floridians have CCW permits

curious minds...

JustaFramer · 11-22-2005, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGofMP

Okay... well I am in CCCPalifornia so I may seem a bit naieve, but....

...

At least you can admit it. That is the first start to recovery.

CGofMP · 11-22-2005, 01:23 AM

GRIN!

No the first step to recovery would be finding a good paying job ABH. (anywhere but here)

BKFranks · 11-03-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

I don't know how many guys have occasion to drill a hole through carpeting. If you do (or have), you know that you have a 50/50 chance of "unzipping" a thread of carpet across the whole room.

I don't drill through carpeting very much, but I picked up this tool at the supply house a couple of months ago on a whim. I had occasion to use it last week, and it works great. You position it over the carpet, give it a thump with your hand, and then drill straight through the tool. Worked like a charm.

Is this the only idea for drilling through carpet? No other tricks? That link only provides for a 7/16" hole in the carpet. What happens if you can't make a hole that big?

paulie · 11-03-2009, 09:22 PM

[quote=mdshunk;47767]

I don't drill through carpeting very much, but I picked up this tool at the supply house a couple of months ago on a whim.

Pretty neat. I have once in blue moon tools buried all over my storage spaces. Haven't seen any of them in a blue mo
www.phbconstruction.com
on.

**loneframer** · 11-03-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKFranks

Is this the only idea for drilling through carpet? No other tricks? That link only provides for a 7/16" hole in the carpet. What happens if you can't make a hole that big?

I've never tried it, but it sounds feasable. Heat the end of a nail punch or something similar pull back the pile and sear the carpet fibers in the screw location. If you melt a pilot hole through the backing, the screw should not unravel the fibers. Got this tip from a commercial construction guy. Apparently it's a common practice with Berber carpets.

Cole82 · 11-03-2009, 09:28 PM

I am not even shure I have ever drilled through carpet. I have always been able to pull the carpet back drill a hole. Then cut a little X in the carpet.

bwalley · 11-03-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

I don't know how many guys have occasion to drill a hole through carpeting. If you do (or have), you know that you have a 50/50 chance of "unzipping" a thread of carpet across the whole room.

I don't drill through carpeting very much, but I picked up this tool at the supply house a couple of months ago on a whim. I had occasion to use it last week, and it works great. You position it over the carpet, give it a thump with your hand, and then drill straight through the tool. Worked like a charm.

I just melt it with a soldering iron and then drill through it.