Re: How To Drill Console
If the size hole you need to drill is relatively large and requires a "hole-saw" type drill bit, you'll have trouble following Tashasdaddy's advise of increasing bit sizes because after drilling the first hole, you will have removed the center "hole" guide needed to drill each successively larger hole.
However, you can solve this problem by securing (i.e., clamping) on a sufficiently large piece of scrap wood as backing to the area you want to drill. Just be sure it is larger than the largest hole you need to drill and secured well enough to remain in place after you've drilled into it multiple times. As long as you don't drill all the way through the backing plate with the hole saw bit, you will still have your guide hole for each remaining successive drilling. Also, the backing will provide added protection, in addition to the tape mentioned by Tashadaddy, to help reduce the amount of chipping that will occur. Even if you don't need a hole-saw type bit, the backing is still a good idea for added protection against chipping.
If all you need is a standard drill bit, you can also reduce chipping if you use a counter-sinking drill bit. Drill your final hole slightly smaller than the diameter you need. You can use the beveled cut of the countersinking bit to remove a little bit of thickness of your console. Just be sure you don't go too far with the countersink so your hole is too big. The countersinking drill bit will shave off the some of the material so you can sand or file the remaining opening to the correct diameter. To make sure you don't sand or file too much, you can pencil the opening diameter on the face of the console and just sand or file to this line. This should prevent any chipping of the face. As with any bit used, the sharper the bit, and in the case of "hole-saw" bits, the more "teeth", and the faster the speed of the drill, the less chipping you're likely to have. Good luck.
