Just picked up one of those C-pillar storage kits from TRDsparks and the listed drill sizes are just a little mysterious. Anybody happen to know how they translate in to standard drill sizes (o4 drill bit, o15 hole saw)?

http://www.trdsparks.com/install/08446-12800inst.pdf

 

Coming from Scion, it looks like metric bit sizes. 4mm is .1578 inches, so a 5/32" bit will do. The 15mm (.59") is close to 9/16" (.5625"), or if you can find it, a 19/32".

 

Whoa, that signifies metric does it -- had me going ! Thanks !

 

Looked around for a 9/16 or 19/32 and found the standard local suppliers stop at 1/2". Sears Hardware has a 9/16" but it costs $20, and I wasn't about to spend that. I finally just compared the plastic posts on the back of the cubby frames to my supply of drill bits and found 15/32" fits it.

So, after marking the template holes with an awl, I drilled 5/32" pilot holes, and then applied the 15/32" for the posts. However, it turned out my hole centers were slightly out relative to the posts and so I slightly enlarged the holes by carefully rocking the bit in the offending directions. Ended up taking me longer than expected and have blisters on my palm from tightening/loosening/tightening/etc the screws, but it's done and seems solid (frames fully back in the recesses, screws fully tightened.) I think if I'd drilled with a 1/2" with built in pilot point, it would have sped things up considerably, but in any case, there's no need to pay lofty prices for the "correct" drill, a little patience and care will still get you there !

 

I feel your pain about $$$ drill bits. Being a woodworker, I have to endure $60 router bits. As for those odd hole sizes, I picked up a 3-bit step drill set. They are the absolute best for drilling plastic or metal, as they leave a very clean hole. They also don't jerk through the hole like regular twist drills do upon breakthrough. Harbor Freight has them for cheap. The really good stuff (Klein and others) cost 4x as much. They last longer, but for occasional use, the HF stuff works well.

 

Ha! So that's what those stepped drill bits are for ! I just put together a tiny basement wood shop last Fall and have made a few visits to Harbor Freight (bought an OSS from them Jan 1 ). Always wondered about those sets, and now see I should have moved on one -- thanks again !

 

got mine at home depot

 

BTW -- Those storage units really do look like they belong in there. The full list price is a little hard to swallow, but TRDsparks half-price is pretty reasonable. If you don't have some other purpose in mind for those two alcoves, I'd say it's a very reasonable way to go ! (Only took me three years to pull that trigger .)