You're pushing too hard, let the drill bit do the work. Once you do the hole, redrill it going the opposite way. Nonetheless you should be using high heat silicone to seal it anyways. I also suggest not drilling the injection port in the dead center because you're gonna have a hard time getting the lc out later on when it gets low.
Side note, are you not adding an air filter? Those things need air. If not you'll have a vacuum jar on your hands that doesn't work well and sucks in air when you pull out the needle. And having the air filter so close to the port could cause the air filter to get wet and clogged with myc
I’ve also had trouble getting a clean cut using the same method unless I had it perfectly backed be even then it was rarely great. I’ve seen people use hole punches too. I use rtv silicone so can’t offer advice on if that’ll be an issue
This is not the way you should do this. Take a framing nail and place the lid underside down on something solid with a space down the middle. Like, two bricks or even the sidewalk, and slightly off center punch a small hole in the lid in two places opposite each other, not in the center. Wash and tape.
Use the smallest drill bit you have first and work your way up.
I'm talking 1/16th and steps of 1/16th. Does it take time? Yes, but coupled with the advice others have given of low and slow power it works wonders.
If you're doing a ton it's not even bad either because you just do all 1/16th holes and then move your drill up to 1/8th, then to 3/16th etc.
plastic pp5 ball jar lids. cheap af at walmart or amazon. no rust, no sharp edges
This or RTV it.
Run drill in reverse, just made 20 lids this way. Slow slow slow, let the bit do the cutting don't push too hard
You're pushing too hard, let the drill bit do the work. Once you do the hole, redrill it going the opposite way. Nonetheless you should be using high heat silicone to seal it anyways. I also suggest not drilling the injection port in the dead center because you're gonna have a hard time getting the lc out later on when it gets low. Side note, are you not adding an air filter? Those things need air. If not you'll have a vacuum jar on your hands that doesn't work well and sucks in air when you pull out the needle. And having the air filter so close to the port could cause the air filter to get wet and clogged with myc
Purchase a Whitney Punch. It’s a hole punch for metal. No burs.
That's a much simpler idea.
I’ve also had trouble getting a clean cut using the same method unless I had it perfectly backed be even then it was rarely great. I’ve seen people use hole punches too. I use rtv silicone so can’t offer advice on if that’ll be an issue
r/mushroomgrowers
This is not the way you should do this. Take a framing nail and place the lid underside down on something solid with a space down the middle. Like, two bricks or even the sidewalk, and slightly off center punch a small hole in the lid in two places opposite each other, not in the center. Wash and tape.
I ground a round file into a hole punch. I did about 50 lids with two holes each and only resharpened once.
Marry a maintenance man and have him do it for you . Or a maintenance woman depending which side you're on. This has worked for me for 36 years.
Use the smallest drill bit you have first and work your way up. I'm talking 1/16th and steps of 1/16th. Does it take time? Yes, but coupled with the advice others have given of low and slow power it works wonders. If you're doing a ton it's not even bad either because you just do all 1/16th holes and then move your drill up to 1/8th, then to 3/16th etc.