How to Drill a Hole in a Metal Filing Cabinet to Install a Lock

Measure the length of the file cabinet’s locking bar from the center of the lock to the bar’s tip. Use this measurement to select a location for the lock on the cabinet drawer that allows the bar to overlap the drawer of the cabinet and the cabinet body while providing enough space to turn smoothly to the locked and unlocked position. Mark this location on the drawer body with a marker.

Empty the drawer of any contents then pull it from the cabinet body. Place the drawer onto a clear workspace that allows you full access to the marked location. Clamp the drawer in place to prevent it from moving when you drill the hole.

Put on a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes during the drilling process.

Place a center punch against the marked location on the drawer. Press down on the punch to place a small indentation in the metal where you intend to drill the hole. The indentation will keep the drill bit from moving when you begin to drill your hole.

Attach a drill bit to the electric drill that’s as large as the lock’s diameter. This will allow the lock to poke through the hole to the outside for key access.

Place the point of the bit into the indentation in the drawer. Turn on the drill and slowly drill through the file cabinet drawer. Use light force on the drill to guide the bit’s movement, allow the bit to do the cutting through the drawer itself. Stop the drill once through and then remove it from the newly drilled hole. There will be slight burring, which are metal shards left around the hole.

Replace the twist bit with a countersink bit of the same size, and run the countersink bit around the edge of the hole for about two seconds to remove the burr.

Brush away any metal shards remaining from the drilling process with a nylon brush, and then return the drawer to the cabinet for lock installation.