I was giving a piece of the cargo mat from a ship when I work up there last Winter. And I need to find out how to drill a clean hole in the belt. I'm going to put it on my 8 foot plow to keep the snow down.

How big of a hole and how bad do you want it to be clean? They make special drill bits for installing studs on snowmobile tracks that do a good job. Can probably find one online for $10-15, or maybe you have a friend who snowmobiles who might have one.

^^^^this

Easiest just to sharpen a piece of tubing on one end and punch the holes.

You can use a regular drill bit, and just waller the holes out. Not the best, but will work.

Not sure how thick you are dealing with or how big around? How many holes you need. You could consider making punch out of piece of steel pipe. Give it a shot with hammer on solid block of wood. How I do canvas and some fabric things I put grommets in.

Mac

"Never Forget Which Way Is Up!"

Depending on size, I would heat up a nail and burn the holes through and seal the edges at the same time.

Depending on the diameter you need a hole saw or forstner bit would work, even a spade bit would probably work. Make sure you secure the work piece.

A bit will drill through steel , so rubber should be easy ...

I did the same to my plow last year. Got a hole punch set from ebay for $30. Worked good.

Just eyeing it mabe 3/4"

I have to get to 5/16 "

As stated, a punch is the way to go. Find a piece of hollow pipe the correct diameter. Hold at angle against belt sander and done. We’ve done this hundreds of times on 1/2”-3/4” rubber belt for hanging targets from stands.

brad point drill is what i'd try first, cuts on the outer edges then cores out the middle

https://www.flexco.com/EN/Product/4685/PowerBoringBit.htm

This is what you need. It's called a power punch and goes into a drill. Will drill a perfect hole.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel.

Studboy 5/16" snowmobile stud track cutter

I used to put alot of holes in convayor belt and used regular hole saws sprayed with wd40 works as good as anything.

Thanks guys for all the info.

I drill holes in conveyor belts when mending them. I use a bit similar to a leather punch as it’s hollow. Place a board under it. I typically am drilling a 3/8” hole not 3/4”.

I could see 160user going for the 1911 in this situation !

This ...if even to make a starter hole for a bit