Homemade pots & how to make holes

[Merlyn]

"Intelligent precautions" is a mild term for paranoia or simply, fear. Fear of minor details leads to neurosis. In a bookworm approach to reality there is no room for experience. Nobody is born with common sense, it comes from learned experience which leads to skilled knowledge, which becomes wisdom.

[Daethen]

Just curious, what trade are you skilled at Chryss? I actually do have a wood working shop and can drill holes with the pot in a vise. However, some will break when I do this which is why I melt them.

[Merlyn]

Electrician, and I've had the same thing happen when trying to drill, Jonada.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

Sorry Ray, that's a bit I use in my business and it would tear up an AquafinA bottle because the plastic is thin. It would tear up any thin plastic container or at best leave a jagged hole. My way leaves a nice clean professional looking hole and the "toxic fumes", if any, are minute at worst.

Chryss,

The brittleness of thin plastic pots - not the ones I carry now - is precisely how I discovered the Uni-Bits. If they are sharp, it's no problem. Many other bits resulted in cracking, but those didn't.

[Hedge]

Given my ineptitude with drills - wrong speed,, wrong direction, wrong action, sometimes all three at once - I still prefer the simplicity of a soldering iron. The fumes are easily avoided by doing it outside

[orchids3]

Have worked as and electronics teck. When you use a soldering iron to solder with there are fumes from the solder. The resin core gives off fumes that are iritating. If you are a plumber then the problem is even greater because the solder cores are acid even worse. Now whats wrong with a soldering iron?
Its not the iron thats hazardous, its how you use it.
Use it in a ventilated area with air blowing away from you. Thats how its supposed to be used.
Have also worked as and Aircraft sheet metal worker.
Have you ever seen anyone drill their finger - I have.
Be careful with whatever tool you use. The really dumb ones will break an iron ball with a rubber hammer.

[Daethen]

Something all of you melters may want to check out. I do stained glass work and for soldering I have a smoke trap. You keep it near where you are working and it draws the fumes into it and through a filter that traps them. Works really well for that and after this thread I am going to dig it out and give it a try.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

"Intelligent precautions" is a mild term for paranoia or simply, fear.

Only in your little world, Chryss.

Originally Posted by Merlyn

In a bookworm approach to reality there is no room for experience. Nobody is born with common sense, it comes from learned experience which leads to skilled knowledge, which becomes wisdom.

Ah, how sadly lacking/limitied is your own understanding. Common sense is taught and nurtured not only by actual experiences but also by learning from the experiences of others and being taught to logically consider the consequences -- both good and bad -- of actions.

*sigh* Appears that profitable discourse has run dry ...

[Tsuchibuta]

I like the melting method myself, I've done both and melting makes cleaner holes in my opinion. If you are really worried about the fumes, get yourself a welding mask. You can get OSHA approved disposable ones for about $10 bucks or so or the replaceable cartridge type isn't all that expensive either. They also work great for painting as well they will trap both organic and inorganic compounds.

[Skayc1]

what about just using a sharp pair of scissors?