Thread: Question on PVC Beds

Guys,

What is the best drill bit for drilling holes in PVC pipe. I'm making a large amount of beds and looking for the easiest way. Thanks

Welcome from South Central Mississippi. Spade bits is what I use, hole saw bits and step bits would work also but to me they would be a slower process. If you are using 1/2" PVC pipe for the arms through bigger PVC I use a 13/16 spade bit for a real tight fit and a 7/8" for a looser fit for 1/2" PVC. It would help if you posted what you are trying to make or how you are trying to make them with the PVC pipe.

Step bits work great up to their intended size.

If you use a hole saw, you have to continually take out the plugs...which is a pain!

I use wood bits. I have a 3 generation family supply. I also use DeWalt skil saw to cut the pvc.

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I'm using 1/2 inch PVC for the limbs. The hole saw works great but a pain to remove the excess.

Originally Posted by scobby100

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I'm using 1/2 inch PVC for the limbs. The hole saw works great but a pain to remove the excess.

Wow! Those will work good and will still be there when that little man is grown. Thanks for sharing the fish habitat picture.

Originally Posted by scobby100

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I'm using 1/2 inch PVC for the limbs. The hole saw works great but a pain to remove the excess.

Please do not take this wrong...I am trying to be as helpful as possible!

What you have here is a good start...but, why stop at that...since you already have a couple of these made you can add on now and improve the design to BENEFIT YOU and the fish!

Knowledge of the Crappie allows you to design cover that will really be used and you have a very good starting point.
Crappie cover should be broke down into 2 main types....Dense or BIG!
Dense cover is what Crappie like to get into to feel safe and secure, and to ambush prey from....it also offers shade, can provide food, if wooden (zooplankton, minnows, etc.), and even oxygen (certain algae/bacterial growth).
To get this type of cover, you could put your cover in a bucket, tub, concrete mold, etc, and then add wood limbs, bamboo, or branches from cedar, etc, all around the PVC, to fill in all the gaps around your PVC.
Natural wood attracts algae quickly and as it starts to degrade, this provides food for the very bottom of the food chain (Plankton, microbes, etc.) in the ecosystem.
If you prefer to use all PVC then you can fill in all around what you have made already and make the entire thing denser!

Big Cover is more for the Big Slabs that really don't have much to fear because of their size, or they don't have many Predators in their waters! They prefer a big Stump, Milk Crate condos, Big Rock, Dock posts, fence posts, etc...what they are concerned with are BIG ambush points where they can hide, and big areas of shade...the shade provides cover so they can linger hidden in darkness to relax or feed!
To get this you could add larger PVC posts in the bucket with your PVC, or larger limbs, you want to get the biggest "STUMP" possible and several in an area!

What you are doing is a good first step, but since you are doing things and wanting to do them correctly, just go ahead and spend alittle more time and really benefit yourself and the fish!
Once you get a few of the enhanced cover in, then you can add the other style, plus cover for baitfish/etc.....this will make your entire area SELF SUSTAINING!

Don't Forget to sand all of the PVC (we use 60 grit paper) so algae can get a grip and attach firmly on the slick plastic, and build thick and strong colonies.

New to crappie fishing, but we sink pvc trees as you have made. Some sort of concrete block on bottom with a chain connecting block and tree with noodle slid onto top pvc limbs so it floats upright.

Been there done that. From my experience, the step bit would work best for 1/2" material.
You can get those at Lowes or Home Depot if you do not have one already.