"fiber optic air switch"

Say what?

Air switches are not fiber optic.

They just use a tube to convey some air pressure to a remote electric switch.

Don't be snarky! :) It's obvious from the context that she meant "fiber optic garbage disposal switch".

And really? They can't do tiny holes? Maybe some of the stone people here have suggestions. I don't suppose you'd want the switch on the front of your cabinet. Hm. That is an unexpected problem!

Actually brickeyee, they do make fiber optic air switches, although I don't know what the advantage is, nor do I know anything about the install.

Waste King makes them. Have you contacted the manufacturer for ideas/suggestions?

Here is a link that might be useful: Fiber Optic

Brick is _never_ "snarky". He is some times curmudgeonly, but he's earned it.
Casey

Yeah, yeah, yeah, give me a hard time. I grew up in a houseful of brothers, I'm impervious.

So, fiber optic switch for garbage disposals. Athomesewing, contacting Waste King is a good idea. I know some people here have these switches, so I'm hoping someone will tell me what they did.

search "drill bit" and read up.
i think it is possible to drill a hole in granite.
i think it is easy.

Those look neat.

Some contractors can't paradigm shift. I went round and round about "drilling a hole" of a certain size and was told I couldn't do it without a hammer drill and the size was strange etc.

When I found the diameter of tool I needed and showed it to the contractor he said "But that's not a drill bit, that is a hole saw. Of course you can do it with a hole saw. But you said drill."

That a hole saw is chucked into a drill in order to use it was immaterial I guess.

Call the company.:)

If you think it is "easy" to drill into granite then you have never done it. :) Even a carbide drill tip will quickly overheat and start to smoke. The next step is warping from the heat. Which means you just ruined it in less than 2 minutes and barely scratched the stone. You need a water cooled diamond tip, and it will be a huge mess.

It would be much easier to drill into the faux panel on the sink. Or switch to a regular air switch and then the stone guys won't have a problem. I can see zero advantage other than the cool factor of fiber optic over an air switch.

My fabricator didn't want to drill a hole that small because, per him, it was more likely to crack the granite. I believe the hole that he drilled was either 5/8 or 3/4 of an inch - smaller than your fabricator is suggesting. The actual button for the fiber optic switch is about 1 1/4" and covers the slightly larger hole just fine. As Palimpsest suggested, call the company.

GreenDesigns, don't pick a fight; just describe the problem for the OP.

For the record, I have several drills (and grinders too, and a table wet saw) and more than a hundred bits. I've drilled a great deal with a hammer drill. BUT if the OP is not comfortable with all this, hire a pro or a very good handyman. AND listen to GreenDesigns. And read up.

Giving them a call first thing Fri. morning. Now, it's Mom's 93rd birthday and I'm off with 2 cakes, veggies, and plastic forks to meet up with the rest of the family and celebrate. I'll spend the night and stay with her tomorrow, so Fri. morning.

Thanks, all.

Suzanne, what did the company tell you? I asked my granite place, and they said as yours did, no holes smaller than 1"(I was surprised). So when I ordered the fiber optic switch, I had the supplier look it up on the internet (not clear) and then call Waste King for me. The answer that Waste King Cust Svc gave us was that the hole should be 3/8". If it must be bigger, it should be 1 1/4", then you use the adaptor part that they also sell. The adaptor fits over the larger hole and extends down into it, clamping around the tube. Apparently, Waste King doesn't want the tube just flopping around in a bigger hole. Did you find out anything different?

Ginny

Unfortunately, my mom is in her final days and needed me to care for her for several days after her birthday party. She's oxygen dependent (on 5+ if that means anything to you) and the power company turned off the electricity for the entire day without notice. Fortunately I was there and we made the switch to a portable unit - actually 2 since the first wasn't working properly. The oxygen company was great and put in an emergency order for an oxygen unit that provided continual feed. It was a scary day.

Somehow the garbage disposal switch didn't seem like a pressing question. Really though, the cabinets should be here in about 2 weeks, so things need to be done and decisions made (we're DIY'ing). I'm leaning towards going with the air switch, but I still need to consider that more carefully. I really appreciate your sharing what you found out.

there ARE diamond tipped drill bits that will work really well drilling a 3/8" diameter hole in granite.... DeFusco Industrial Supply carries them in stock in multiple diameters - they are not cheap, but they will work way better than carbide....

Call Adam Tompkins at De Fusco in Tempe, AZ to order one.... they are good folks and will take good care of you - they are one of my sponsors for AZ School of Rock and they sell to Pro's like me and DIY'ers alike....

hth

kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: DeFusco Diamond Drill Bits

I would use a diamond encrusted coring bit with water cooling or heat shielding gel (e.g. - Mechanics Time Savers (MTS7100EACH) Hot Stop Spray Gel). The heat shielding gel will be less messy to cleanup.

It would take some time ~ 30 minutes to 1 hour on the actual hole. Before that, you should practice making holes on a scrap piece of granite with another similarly sized coring bit.

Be careful on using any kind of "gel" with Natural Stone - as it may have a staining effect - especially anything that has an oils compound or glycerine substance to it - I'd use just plain water or some ice mounded around the bit...

a 3/8" hole through punched through a 1/2" tile or a 2CM or 3CM piece of slab should only take about 2 to 4 minutes - keep it wet if you are going to DIY.....

not rocket science, but you will have to take your time and keep the bit cool

Dear Suzanne,
Well, what you've been dealing with certainly puts my anxiety about the kitchen remodel in perspective. Thank you for the reminder about what really matters.

We're templating on Tuesday, so I'll be able to have the conversation with the granite guy. I'll let you know what happens. Maybe it will save you having to spend time researching. I still want the fiber optic switch rather than the air switch. One advantage of the 1 1/4" hole is that if you ever want something else in there, you already have the standard size hole.

I wish all the best for you and your mother.

Ginny

since it's a 1 time deal, buy a cheap diamond core bit and do it yourself, or get the granite people back to do it for you. I get bits from www.thk.hk They're well priced and ship rather quickly (from Hong Kong). Teddy (the guy running the place) is really quick and polite. Just add water and drill.