How to Enlarge an Existing Hole

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows you how to enlarge an existing hole in a door or counter top.

Danny: Many times on projects around your home you’ll find that you need to enlarge an existing hole. That could be quite a challenge. Joe: Here on this door Danny we’re enlarging the locks to install as newer one. For job like that you need to use a hole saw but the way hole saw work is the pilot drills into the wood and guides and the saw. But in the case like this as you can see there’s nothing to guide a bit and the hole saw was just rabble around. Danny: I’ve seen a few people tried this in they’ll end up with one of the homeowners buy a new door. Joe: We can save the expense of a new door by trying this trick with a piece of plywood simply mark the centerline on the plywood and mark corresponding centerlines on the hole itself. Then you line up these two center lines and clamp it with a piece of scrap underneath just to protect the door. Danny: Of course you can use a few small nails to accomplish the same clamping effect but clamps will work a lot better. There you go. Joe: Thank you. And all you do is take the pilot and put it right on the center lines and drill it as deeply as you can through the door. Danny: After drilling down as far as the hole saw will allow you to drill you turn the door over and continue the process. Joe: Then you simply pull the wooden plug off the hole saw and here’s a little bit of the door we turned off. Then put the pilot get back in the hole and finish drilling all the way through. Danny: After that you take the clamps off and you’re ready for your new lock set. And this can also be use in the countertop situation where you’re going from one size closet up to a larger size.