I just use a big drill bit on my 3/8 inch drill to make holes in containers.

Sometimes I buy big cheap plastic pots for growing plants that do not have drain holes. For those, I use a spade bit to make bigger drain holes.

Cool! That works ok on small containers, too? I am not allowed to use knives, etc....I tend to not be good with them. I almost sliced off a finger off in high school, with a scalpel. :p That is why the soldering iron works well for me. The bit is a great idea for larger things, thanks! I will ask my husband to do that with some totes in which I am storing pots. :)

I don't have a soldering iron but use a skewer heated over the gas. Similar idea.

I also use an old soldering iron. I found that it made terrible fumes so it is best to do it outside. Even then the fumes can get overwhelming if there isn't a nice breeze blowing. :)

A wood burning tool works also

I use a drill. A lot of people use the soldering iron. I've got Gran's playing around. I stick to the drill. Don't forge to post your sprouts.

I've used an ice pick, drill, soldering iron, and awl. The easiest for me is the awl tool on my swiss army knife, which is usually handier than the other tools. I just insert and twist, but it's pretty sharp so it's best to be careful.

I still do a few new containers each year, but I re-use a lot of containers so I don't have to prep many anyway.

I use a soldering gun. The gun seems to work better for me because I can control it better, have more use of my other hand, and don't have to mess with a soldering iron stand.
The holes are smaller but square. I just don't like the smell of burning plastic it puts off.

I started using coffee filters in the bottom of milk jugs this year. They fit perfectly and I don't make a mess moving them around after they have soil mix in them. We'll see if I have any issue with roots growing through the holes later this season.

Here is a link that might be useful: Method

I just use a utility knife. So far no issues and I haven't cut myself yet (knock on wood). And I'm not usually not good with knives either -- I have a cut on one hand now from slicing a sandwich of all things. :)

I've used a soldering iron for years and love it. I try to prep the majority of my containers in the fall, so I can do this outside because of fumes.

A few times, I have needed to prep containers inside in winter and just didn't feel like using the steak knife (several close calls with that darn thing).

So I open a window, put a fan up and heat up the soldering iron, cringing the whole time about the heat I'm wasting, (can't believe I actually put a fan up to blow my heated air OUT of the window!) trying to work as fast as I can, and thinking how my DH would kill me if he saw me.

But I got caught once. Hours later, my daughter came home, took one step in the door, sniffed, and said with a confused look on her face, "Who was blowing out birthday candles in here?"

So I don't risk it anymore, lol. Back to the steak knife if I don't have enough fall-prepped containers!

:)
Dee

I've always used the soldering iron method. Certain types of plastic produce much worse fumes than others. Milk jugs are pretty mild. I do all my container prep indoors with no open windows. I will turn on a fan, if I have one handy, but not usually. I can't imagine using a knife or box cutter. I'd slice off fingers in no time. I might try to save my milk jugs this year, because the container prep is time consuming, and my wrists can't manage cutting the plastic, even with excellent scissors. Arthritis is catching up with me and I'm not even 50.

Martha

Cary, sounds like me. :)

Fortunately, I do not have a good sense of smell, and it is warm enough (40s) to use the soldering iron outside. Lol at the stories. :)

I use a wood burner. Works very nice

I'm also a fan of the drill.

I can stack up about half a dozen of the quart size plastic yogurt/sour cream containers and drill holes through all 6 at once. Then I use a utility knife for the vent holes on top.

Yes to the soldering iron! I do it on the stove with the hood fan on high to eliminate the smell. It is faster and easier than any other method.

Nan, as you have, I wanted to warn of the fumes given off by plastics and their toxicity. I too, use a soldering iron, but I use it outdoors, with a fan blowing away from me, while wearing a medical mask. I use 2 litre pop bottles, and if I must do it indoors I use an ice-pick: just need to rotate it around a bit and the hole is big enough.

I use an ice pick for my containers (and also plastic cups for when I pot up house plant cuttings). Drilling holes is the most time consuming part of WS, but once it's over, you're glad it's over LOL.

Brad AKA Moonwolf