Best way to knock out fiber glass enclosures, hole saw or knockout.

[ACDCBag420]

Anyone know if you can use a knock out set on a fiberglass enclosure? Used a hole saw created a lot of nasty dust. Want to use a knockout set and dont want to ruin the box. Thanks for the insight.

 

[ActionDave]

I don't think a KO set would work. You could try the old shaving cream around the hole saw trick to cut down on the dust.

 

[Crash117]

I don't think a KO set would work. You could try the old shaving cream around the hole saw trick to cut down on the dust.

Like Dave said, shaving cream works good. Also oil it with cutting lube oil as you cut and it will catch the dust.

 

[macmikeman]

If the hole you need is for a 1/2", 3/4", or 1" ko knockout, then try using the Milwaukee little hole saws they sell 3 to a pack at the big orange, they seem to cut fiberglass pretty good when ever I needed to do it for a conduit entry. For larger, I don't know, I'd just use Lennox hole saws for bigger pipe. You don't need nothing fancy for fiberglass, but a diamond encrusted hole saw bit works the very best of all.

 

[MTW]

These are what I would use if you want clean precision holes.

CUTTER KITS​

We've packaged our most popular sizes of all Blair holemaking tools in handy kits making them easy to find in your toolbox. Plus, these kits will extend the life of your Blair holemaking tools because they protect the sharp edges from being damaged by other items in your toolbox. Because Blair hole cutters are sharp, the kits help protect your fingers, too.

The kits are all designed to provide you with the right sizes of hole cutters that are needed to accomplish specific tasks. Tasks such as fabrication, rustproofing, installing antennas, removing spotwelds, and making access holes for a variety of aftermarket add ons. Made in USA.

11090 Rotabroach kit
5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, & 3/4" Cutters, Arbor, (2) Extra Pilots, & Center Punch
11092 Rotabroach Kit - Metric
8,10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20mm Cutters, Arbor, (2) Extra Pilots, & Center Punch

11099 Master Kit
16 Sizes (1/4 - 3/4") Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilots
11201 Master Kit - Metric
16 Sizes (6mm - 20mm) Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilots

11091 Large Diameter Kit
7/8, 1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4, 1-3/8, & 1-1/2" Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilot

11320 Rotabroach Combo Kit
5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4, 1-3/8, & 1-1/2" Cutters, (2) Arbors, Center Punch & Extra Pilots

14006 Holcutter Kit

Hole Cutter Kits | Blair Equipment

Blair offers a wide variety annular cutter kits for easy storage, organizing and protecting your annular cutters.

www.blairequipment.com

 

[ACDCBag420]

I don't think a KO set would work. You could try the old shaving cream around the hole saw trick to cut down on the dust.

 

[ACDCBag420]

The enclosure is made by SolarBos

(https://www.renvu.com/site/download...100-06-15-N3 Install Manual Ver 1.1 RENVU.pdf)

The wall of the enclosure is only like a quarter inch thick, its rated for 1500 volts and is used for a commercial solar feild combiner box. I might try and call customer support and see what they say as well. The enclosure seems like its pvc at first but it is definitely a thin fiberglass resin.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

These are what I would use if you want clean precision holes.

CUTTER KITS​

We've packaged our most popular sizes of all Blair holemaking tools in handy kits making them easy to find in your toolbox. Plus, these kits will extend the life of your Blair holemaking tools because they protect the sharp edges from being damaged by other items in your toolbox. Because Blair hole cutters are sharp, the kits help protect your fingers, too.

The kits are all designed to provide you with the right sizes of hole cutters that are needed to accomplish specific tasks. Tasks such as fabrication, rustproofing, installing antennas, removing spotwelds, and making access holes for a variety of aftermarket add ons. Made in USA.

11090 Rotabroach kit
5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, & 3/4" Cutters, Arbor, (2) Extra Pilots, & Center Punch
11092 Rotabroach Kit - Metric
8,10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20mm Cutters, Arbor, (2) Extra Pilots, & Center Punch

11099 Master Kit
16 Sizes (1/4 - 3/4") Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilots
11201 Master Kit - Metric
16 Sizes (6mm - 20mm) Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilots

11091 Large Diameter Kit
7/8, 1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4, 1-3/8, & 1-1/2" Cutters, Arbor, Center Punch & Extra Pilot

11320 Rotabroach Combo Kit
5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4, 1-3/8, & 1-1/2" Cutters, (2) Arbors, Center Punch & Extra Pilots

14006 Holcutter Kit

Hole Cutter Kits | Blair Equipment

Blair offers a wide variety annular cutter kits for easy storage, organizing and protecting your annular cutters.

www.blairequipment.com

We used those saws all the time for conduit entries. The best I have ever found. Much more precise holes than the standard hole saws.

We never bought the kits as we only used hole saws for conduits 1" and smaller. We did have a hole a 3/4" hole saw for when we used knock outs as that is the exact size of the pull bolt, and it is much easier to get the 3/4" hole saw on the exact center, than trying to line up the knockout when the starting hole is oversized.

Our non-metallic boxes were not fiber glass, but we did use the KOs for larger than one inch.

 

[MTW]

I’ve been using them for many years, have two sets one small and one large. When used with cutting oil and a slow speed hole shooter they can last you a career. Also have a hydraulic KO set and use either depending on the job at hand. For small jobs I normally use the Blair or Hougen cutters, if there are several holes to do then the punch set comes out.

For plastic enclosures the Blairs are the tool of choice they perform fine on stainless as well. Bonus is they are made in Michigan.