How to Drill a Hole in a Penny
Copper pennies are easy to work with in any craft. A penny can sparkle with the shine of new copper, or have the dark patina of ages spent being passed hand-to-hand. The clink of pennies hitting together make an enjoyable and inexpensive bracelet for a young girl, and it only takes a moment to drill a hole in several of them.
Things You'll Need
- Work bench
- Eye protection
- Scrap piece of plywood a few inches in size
- Small piece of thin leather
- Small hand clamp
- Metal punch
- Hammer
- Electric drill with bit sized for the bracelet string or wire
- 600 grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Place the scrap wood on the edge of a work bench or other secure spot.
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2
Place the penny on top of the wood piece and close to the edge of the wood to give the clamp room to reach it. Position the penny so that the point being drilled into is away from the edge, otherwise it will be covered with the clamp. For example, if you were drilling into the penny just above the word "Liberty," the portion of the penny with the date would be closest to the edge of the wood and table. In God We Trust would be to the right-hand side.
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3
Lay the leather over the bottom half of the penny closest to the edge of the bench to protect the finish from the sharp teeth of the clamp. If you were drilling just above "Liberty," this means that the half of the coin with the date and the words "...We Trust" would be covered with the leather.
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4
Clamp the penny and the wood underneath it securely to the table. Test to ensure neither will shift out of the mouth of the clamp.
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5
Mark the location on the penny with the punch where you want to drill. Tap the punch lightly with a hammer to create a small depression in the metal.
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Place the drill bit in the depression, press down and hold it steady while turning the drill on. It only takes a second to punch through the penny.
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Turn off the drill and pull it from the hole. Pull away any metal shavings that are still attached to the penny. If there are any sharp edges then carefully buff them down with a small piece of 600 grit sandpaper.
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8
Repeat the process for any other pennies.
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Tips & Warnings
It may take several pennies to get the technique correct but it will only cost you pennies to do so.
Always wear eye protection when using an electric drill.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
