Tool for cutting holes for point motors?

[darkscot]

What do people use for cutting rectangular holes for Peco point motors these days? My last layout only had 6-7 points and that was bad enough. Drill and pad saw that time, but I don't fancy repeating that for 15+ points.

I was thinking some sort of mini router, but haven't found anything so far.

[Walkingthedog]

What make of motor. Most can be fitted under the board with just a drilled hole for the operating pin.

[darkscot]

The Peco PL-10. I am open to suggestions for other types, but I already have about ten of these.

I find the motor mount directly on the point just seems to be more reliable.

[Brian]

As WTD has said, most motors like the Peco PL10 or Hornby R8014 can be mounted underneath the baseboard and the drive pin passing up through via a 9-10mm dia hole or a slot formed of 2 x 4mm holes drilled adjacent to each other then opened up to form a slot 4mm x 9-10mm long.

However, if you really want them attached to the points underside and a large rectangular hole cut, then mark out rectangle and drill 2 x 6mm dia holes diagonally in two corners, then use a Jig Saw or Pad Saw to cut along the lines and open up the rectangle.

[Walkingthedog]

Motors attached directly to points probably are more reliable but a real pain if you need to relocate the points even a small amount.

[Rog (RJ)]

Use an electric jigsaw instead of the padsaw to make life a bit easier.

[darkscot]

sounds like there is a business opportunity here!

[Tricky Dicky]

For something small like a rectangular point motor hole, I would suggest a multi tool eg.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/multi-tools/cat830708

They work by vibrating a blade side to side by no more than a millimetre and literally saw their way down, no hole drilling to insert jigsaw blades. I use one constantly to saw T&G floorboards to split them on the joist so no need to use battens when replacing the board. I got a cheap one at Lidl about 5 years back as an experiment having never understood their use, now it is my go to tool for all those awkward cutting jobs. When I demolished my old garage removing the cement asbestos roof was made easy because I could cut the nails in the corrugations without touching the asbestos.

Richard

[Steve M]

Personally, I think the days of cutting a big hole in the baseboard for a motor ave gone. Peco have introduced an under board motor that clips into two lugs screwed under the board using a template. I fitted my points with Seep motors and just drilled a 1/2" hole in the board for the pin but you can achieve the same with a small slotted hole.
Slow action server motors also only require a small slot in the board.

[darkscot]

Funnily enough I saw an advert for the new Peco Twistlock motors yesterday. I had never heard of them before, but they do look good. The only snag is they are double the price of the standard motor.
However, what I also discovered is that the Seep motors are only a fiver! I always thought they were more expensive than Peco?
So I am very temped to switch (har har) totally to Seep and ditch the old Peco ones. That should also allow me to get the track down a lot quicker.