getting a hole in a stainless steel meter box

[Ric]

My meter boxes are only 6" wide and are flush in a concrete wall. I need to get a 1" hole into the side of the box but must do it from the inside of the box. A close quarter drill with a 1" hole saw won't even fit in there. I'm thinking of trying a dremel tool with a metal cutting disc and cutting a square hole or as a last resort torching a hole.

Any ideas?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Can you take a right angle drill, drill a pilot hole, change to a hole saw, and work the pilot bit of the hole saw into the previously drilled hole? Or, put the hole saw in the previously drilled hole and then put the drill on the hole saw?

Oh, Oh, another thought. I just went out in my garage to check out my drill and hole saws and discovered that I would need about 7". What I noticed was my hole saws have a hex on the end opposite the teeth. How about cutting off the excess length of the pilot bit and turning it with an air ratchet and appropriately sized socket?

 

[Ric]

Can you take a right angle drill, drill a pilot hole, change to a hole saw, and work the pilot bit of the hole saw into the previously drilled hole? Or, put the hole saw in the previously drilled hole and then put the drill on the hole saw?

Oh, Oh, another thought. I just went out in my garage to check out my drill and hole saws and discovered that I would need about 7". What I noticed was my hole saws have a hex on the end opposite the teeth. How about cutting off the excess length of the pilot bit and turning it with an air ratchet and appropriately sized socket?

7" seems to be what I'm finding with a hole saw and close quarter drill combo. A more shallow hole saw may help if I could find a good one. I'll have to check on the air ratchet idea. A plasma cutter crossed my mind also but since the side of the box is up against concrete I don't know if that would work...but it would sure make for a hot shower of sparks

 

[ibspuds]

I have recently put holes in my newly installed coin boxes. My experience is that plasma cutter makes easier work. I tried to drill and hole saw method, it did work but was a ton of work. Just my $.02

 

[Ric]

I have recently put holes in my newly installed coin boxes. My experience is that plasma cutter makes easier work. I tried to drill and hole saw method, it did work but was a ton of work. Just my $.02

Do you think the plasma cutter will work on a box that is already installed and sunk in flush to a concrete wall? I would have to cut from inside the box.

 

[Bill Manke]

Plasma will work just cover any area that you don't want any of the sparks to hit. when it hits the concrete it might just pop some of the concrete. wont really hurt anything but it will get your attention when the rocks pop.

 

[Earl Weiss]

My meter boxes are only 6" wide and are flush in a concrete wall. I need to get a 1" hole into the side of the box but must do it from the inside of the box. A close quarter drill with a 1" hole saw won't even fit in there. I'm thinking of trying a dremel tool with a metal cutting disc and cutting a square hole or as a last resort torching a hole.

Any ideas?

My question is why from inside? Where will the hole exit?

 

[Ric]

My question is why from inside? Where will the hole exit?

The hole will be used to access an external box mounted next to the meter box for a credit card swiper.

 

[Reds]

An acetylene torch will not cut stainless. You have to use a plasma cutter. Watch out for flying debris from the concrete - it pops and shoots pieces everywhere. Make sure you have real good safety glasses on. A #5 lens works good for plasma, although you can use a lesser shade. Make sure the lens is shatter proof safety glass.

 

[pitzerwm]

Where else would you find this many people that have been there and done this??? And are willing to help you!!

You guys are great, and this is what makes the Forum a one of a kind.

 

[mjwalsh]

My meter boxes are only 6" wide and are flush in a concrete wall. I need to get a 1" hole into the side of the box but must do it from the inside of the box. A close quarter drill with a 1" hole saw won't even fit in there. I'm thinking of trying a dremel tool with a metal cutting disc and cutting a square hole or as a last resort torching a hole.

Any ideas?

Ric,

A right angle drill with a bimetal hole saw would make more sense than the dremel approach that you are considering. Cutting oil would help. The hole saw will be ruined if the concrete can't be avoided.

MJ

 

[sprocket]

The best lubracant/coolant for stainless drilling or sawing is coke or pepsi, just don't try high speed and melt you bit.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I mounted bill acceptor boxes next to my Bay boxes. Now, the bay box is recessed into the block wall and protrudes a couple of inches from where the block wall would end with a couple of incehes of Brick around the bay box, so the Bill acceptor box is next to the brick that extends out. Is this what you have? Or are both fully recessed? If you have what I have, I simply measured where the holes would line up. Drilled out the extended brick and used a ridged hole saw. Slow RPM and may have gone thru a few. But the job got done... 8 times.

 

[Earl Weiss]

The hole will be used to access an external box mounted next to the meter box for a credit card swiper.

Is the hole only to run wire / cable from one box to the other? If so it would seem 1" is a ot larger than you may need unlessthere are som large multipin couplers involved. I that why you need such a large hole?

 

[DavidM]

I am doing the same thing now. My advice is to find a plasma cutter or someone who has one that you can pay to do the job. We had a welder come in and use his plasma cutter. It took him seconds to cut the hole. Our boxes are mounted in brick pillars.

David