advice needed from handyman

[b-diddy]

ok, i just assembled an agerum (bookshelf) i got from ikea, sans instructions. but i bought it to be my entertainment center, so i want to run cords out the back of it. problem being, the back is sealed off by a thin sheed of wood in the back.

anyone know what the easiest/ cleanest way to punch a hole back there?

[Tahoe]

I build houses so I have a million tools but if you have a drill with a 1" spade bit (remember the plug) is how I'd do it. Go slow or it will bounce all over the friggin place.

When i say slow I mean pressure, the bit should be going high speed.

[Zip Goshboots]

Every time I've built one of those shelves, and after I've taken it apart and rebuild it seven times because I do it wrong, I notice that those thin backings usually are perforated in the shape of circles or something that you can punch out and put your chords through them.
If not, and you have kids, use your kids face to smash a hole in the back of the thing.

[Wizzle]

I build houses so I have a million tools but if you have a drill with a 1" spade bit (remember the plug) is how I'd do it. Go slow or it will bounce all over the friggin place.

When i say slow I mean pressure, the bit should be going high speed.

Also do it from the TV side in order to come out the back cuz that thin "wood" will probably flare out and it will be hidden if it is on the back side

[Hermy]

Heres a trick I used BD, take another thin piece of wood and clamp it down on front of the piece you want to drill. That way you can get the hole started without skipping around and beating the bejesus out of your keeper piece.

[WTFchris]

If you are skilled with an exacto knife, you can probably do it that way too. If you haven't attatched the back yet I would suggest what Hermy said.

[Uncle Mxy]

Depending on the wood and other specifics, it makes sense to tape the edges of the hole that you drill or otherwise cut out. That way, it doesn't fray or cut the cables.

[mercury]

Make sure the hole is large enough for adapters and power supplies you may add down the road... once you put two or three cords through you no longer have enough space to add more plug ends.

You can get different sized hole cutters (used for cutting door lock sets) at any hardware.

[UxKa]

Make sure the hole is large enough for adapters and power supplies you may add down the road... once you put two or three cords through you no longer have enough space to add more plug ends.

Thats what I was going to add, power plugs can be a bitch down the road. I would make it about as big as a door knob, maybe a tad smaller. If youre worried about sharp edges cutting into cords, you can buy little plastic rings for the hole or just sand it down a bit.

[Glenn]

Where was all of this valuable advice for my vasectomy thread?