Drilling extra holes in MK5 Vinyl covered dash.

[rponfick]

I have the vinyl coated composite dash from FFR for my MK5. I will be needing to drill some extra holes (7/8") for turn signal buttons and maybe some toggle switches. What is best used to drill in vinyl covered dash to keep from damaging the vinyl covering? Would you use a hole saw drill, stepped bit, or regular bit? Drill from front or rear?

Maybe another option would be to vinyl cover the sloped under dash center panel and mount some accessary switches on it. Comments?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ralph

[gbranham]

I'd mark the vinyl with a circle of appropriate size, using an ink pen, then cut the vinyl out with a razor blade, then use a hole saw.

[Papa]

The padded vinyl dash drills very easily and doesn't come apart around the hole. I've drilled a couple of holes in mine. I used a step bit, but a standard bit will work as well, particularly if you need very specific dimensions.

Edit:

Here is a picture of a couple of switches I installed in my FFR padded dash to show what I mean when I say there is no issue drilling the dash.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101320&d=1548615808

[JimStone]

I'm making custom vinyl covered dash, transmission tunnel covers, etc. and I too was worried about drilling through the vinyl and having the bit tear the vinyl.

I got these leather hole punches: https://www.amazon.com/6Pcs-Leather-Hole-Punch-Tool/dp/B0063VCHBU

They work great to make a clean circle cut in the vinyl. You don't have to use the drill to do it. Just push down firmly and twist the bit back and forth with your fingers and it will make a nice cut.

[Rdone585]

Since the leather punches referenced don't come in 7/8", maybe they do but not the ones shown. A simple alternative is to use steel pip that is 7/8" internal diameter and grind it down to a point following the example of the ones shown in the link. Now the pipe will work just like those do.

[rponfick]

Papa, is your dash actually padded? I can't tell from your photo. The current dash supplied by FFR is just vinyl glued to the composite structure, no padding. I am not sure this makes any difference, but thought I'd ask.
Thanks, Ralph

[Papa]

My dash is the FFR padded dash that they have been offering for several years. It's a plastic piece with textured vinyl fused to the plastic, not a sheet of vinyl over a pad glued to the structure underneath.

#17743 - Roadster Vinyl Dash with Glovebox - Factory Five Parts Catalog https://share.google/AbxnyHOMLl1FYfnfs

[CraigS]

I can't speak to this dash specifically but I have used a hole saw 100s of times. My one suggestion is to figure a way to hold the dash super securely on a drill press. It is so hard to have a hole saw perfectly perpendicular to the surface so it inevitably cuts through first in one spot and then the teeth catch on the edge and then.....

[Rdone585]

This will also work great for making a 7/8" hole in sheet metal, it's an amazon link for a hole knockout punch. Drill a smaller hole then use the knockout punch to press out a smooth hole the size you want. You should get the vinyl / leather out of the way first because the punch doesn't do a great job on flexible material.
https://www.amazon.com/LICHAMP-Manual-Knockout-Cutter-Conduit/dp/B0817325R4/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3DDW4ZP8AV7IC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9lIYQub5CekSerwMvHJivBBJ9vVnnKG5W uCS4QT19CU_xQd7XnsyjeqJ8fG2bwsR88il7G5ZXApMhS8ukXF T8DTJN8-1FxRWpnpt6XVAG7BJNqMx4eP7ik-ydSofm8pv68pguu6k61dUhS79LMX707XLdrC57l8X-Nbn-caVNuh9J9pb8ZOjLRARDtj1Cxrk0z2zNLu6Ea3rGBGttGaUShw SaneBGTsmQzNHEzGDw9dlSeYhmOSr1RXYwrEIqWBx54sC_sbra siXFZ4omZwOaDyu9gbFrZ_jRpaPweRM6g8.S-RqB9BCQKXLI0EOMbuBGmxrUh0jQoO0kKABjW4CdVs&dib_tag=se&keywords=7%2F8+hole+punch+for+metal&qid=1755384858&sprefix=7%2F8%22+hole+punch%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-9

[rponfick]

My dash is the FFR padded dash that they have been offering for several years. It's a plastic piece with textured vinyl fused to the plastic, not a sheet of vinyl over a pad glued to the structure underneath.

#17743 - Roadster Vinyl Dash with Glovebox - Factory Five Parts Catalog https://share.google/AbxnyHOMLl1FYfnfs

Papa, no problem, that is the part no. I ordered also, so we may just be talking semantics, as I wouldn't call it padded. It just looks like vinyl fused/glued to the composite base. I had a thicker padded version previously and like this version better. I think I will go with the spepped bit. Your dash looks great.