Bath with no tap holes

[finchy01]

Basics I know, it's just I've never done this before. I need to drill some holes for the taps on a new bath, the only thing is there is no guide holes or or anything. I'm guessing I just use a normal hole saw, is this the best way and also is it best to do from underneath the bath to the top, or top to underneath. Sorry to be so ignorant!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i would do top to underneath otherwise you could have breakout on the surface of the bath and use a normal holesaw just take it easy.

 

[dontknowitall]

Drill from top - not bottom!!

Tip, if you need one. Put masking tape around tap area (on bath) first. It helps prevent slipping and if you do, hopefully masking tape will protect the bath.

I don't bother with masking tape but I do the following:

I carefully drill a 2mm pilot hole.
Then I check my measurements again.
Then enlarge it to 3mm, then 4mm then 6mm.

Secondly, I use a sharp hole saw (with 6mm pilot drill bit) and drill slowly, just scoring a neat circle to begin with then start using pressure when it looks right.

Process takes a good 2-3 minutes per hole but better than rushing and making a good mess.

 

[ddplumbing]

As has been mentioned,

Take your time, thats the most important thing, I have seen many installers rush this, and on cheap baths you can get a lot of fibreglass breakout and splitting.
If it is a thicker bath eg. Caronite or similar, make sure you cut very slowly, their insulation layer can build up quite a bit of heat, which will distort and discolour the surface!

Pilot hole/masking tape as dontknowitall has said.