Air holes in sterilites

What is the best way to get the "neatest" looking and softest (to avoid nose rub) airholes on all these sterilites? Without taking hours and hours. I see other peoples tubs and vent holes and I swear they sat there and measured each hole precisely. Anyways, any pointers????

A piece of peg board if you have it will give you the perfect grid spacing, and then an appropriate sized drill bit, just file off the inside to make it nice and smooth without sharp edges. That or you can melt holes with the correct size nail, but that could get messy.

Personally, I prefer using a soldering iron. I tried punching holes and drilling holes, and I found I had a tendency to crack the plastic. Eventually I just used the soldering iron to melt holes, and then used a damp sponge to get the extra melted plastic off the iron. At the end, all you have to do is pull away some little tendrils of plastic (kinda like when you use a hot glue gun).

Jrgh17 said:

Personally, I prefer using a soldering iron. I tried punching holes and drilling holes, and I found I had a tendency to crack the plastic. Eventually I just used the soldering iron to melt holes, and then used a damp sponge to get the extra melted plastic off the iron. At the end, all you have to do is pull away some little tendrils of plastic (kinda like when you use a hot glue gun).

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That's what I use, and I usually don't even get the little tendrils once you get the technique "perfected". This method also gives you the ability to make holes of various sizes, suitable for new hatchlings on up to adults. It not only works for Sterlite tubs, but also on deli cups and Gladware (or generic equivalent). I have a preference for the small, red handled soldering iron that I found at Home Depot. Lowes probably carries it as well. It's not that expensive (I think I paid around $30 for my last one, but don't quote me on that) and well worth it.

Ditto on a soldering iron. I used to use a drill, and with a good set of bits, you don't have to worry about cracking the plastic. But after drilling an entire rack worth of holes, my arm was sore from holding the drill non-stop. So I tried the soldering iron and haven't looked back (I actually have one just for making tub holes). If you go that route, try to do it outside, because the fumes wreak!

Oh, and the one I got, I got from Wal-Mart for ~$8 (maybe a little more, regardless, the cheapest one I could find). Works great!

I use a wood burning tool which is really just a soldering iron that you can change the nibs on. I got mine from teh local craft store. I do it by a window with a fan set to "exhaust".

cornspot said:

I use a wood burning tool which is really just a soldering iron that you can change the nibs on. I got mine from teh local craft store. I do it by a window with a fan set to "exhaust".

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That's what I use too. It only cost $12. Works great!