installation tool or hole punch technique?

Question

Hi, For 70-097, the stainless steel leaf springs for window screens, the installation hole is described on the web page as being 0.165inch by 0.180inch (a rectangle). Is there a tool available to make this hole in the screen frame? Or, if not, what technique would you use to make this hole (without collapsing the aluminum frame? I'm considering replacing springs on 20 windows, and that's a lot of hole punching into relatively fragile material!

Dave Sr. · Accepted Answer

We drill with a 3/16" drill bit, making sure the hole centers 3-3/16" apart. Also take a look at the 70-030 spring. Many manufactures are using this spring to eliminate drilling or punching the frame. However, the 70-030 spring is made to slip into the corner of the screen frame, you might have to take the frame apart to slip it in. Also look at the 70-011 spring, similar to the 70-097.