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yeah I gots a $60 drill press and a irwin stepped bit. sometimes I have to drill by hand if its too tall to fit in the drill press. I can get around that if I build a base out of mdf but it wont be adjustable or do angles anymore. that shorter stepped bit sounds like a win. I have to try that.
How small are we talking here? My step bit is way shorter than any drill bits I have. I imagine the only time it's "too tall" when the enclosures are being drilled upright?
...can't wait to go to the hardware store with enclosures making sure they fit
Jero wrote:I use a drill &/or a dremel. Measure out & mark your holes. Putting masking/painters tape over the enclosure may help keep the bit from bouncing around, as well as keeping the enclosure from getting scratched. I never bother myself as I wait to paint until drilling has been finished.
Here are the bit sizes I use, with what part next to them. This is where a step bit would come in handy, as you don't have to swap out for each component. Pots: 1/4-5/16" In/out jacks: 3/8" 3pdt: 1/2" 9v: 1/2" 3-5mm Leds: 1/8-11/64" (if not using bezels)
What size hole for if you ARE using LED Bezels? I'm getting a caliper reading of 7mm so maybe 1/4 inch?
from memory 1/4 is like 6.44mm. metric stepped bit would work probably. I don't have anything metric but almost all my parts are metric sizes. except the radio shack bezel is 1/4. tayda has some bigger ones that sit a little higher off the box. I always use hot glue but the radio shack bezel is the one that is loose. the tayda electronics one is metric and yet it almost doesn't need hot glue. funny how that works.
The LED bezel I got from Mammoth required a 5/16s hole
I went out to Harbor Frieght. Kinda pisses me off,...we have two in town,...one is a 10 minute highway drive away and the other one is 15 minute drive through town. And I live in a neighborhood that is adjacent to Downtown Spokane so it's not like I live in the friggin boonies.
Anyway,....I picked up a step bit that works like a charm thanks for the suggestion on that Spunkle Munkle . I also picked up a center punch.
I saw that they had a bench top drill press for like 70 bucks.
I'm not sure how much I trust HF's powertools,...so I'm keeping an eye out for a used one locally. Useful thread and why ILF kicks the crap out of TBFX.
I've been using that exact drill press. It works like a charm. If it binds, it'll stall... but my bigger drill press will break your hand instead, so I'm down with stalling.
Other than having to tighten some nuts and bolts from time to time, it's been pretty solid. It's drilled every pedal I've built so far.
Protip: Put some cutting fluid in one of those flux dispenser bottles. The ones with the needle.
By cutting fluid Ya mean to lube tha hole (I prefer to stick in dry,...lets em know who's boss [okay that's not really true,....I like felatio and cunnilingus too much])? Can I just squeeze some 3-in-1 (machine oil) while the bit's fucking the enclosure? Are the needle styles just to control the amount of oil easier?
Any oil would probably do. I use the stuff they sell at Smallbear that's made just for aluminum. I don't doubt they modified the formula by writing "aluminum" on the bottle, but it wasn't that expensive, lasts forever, and keeps aluminum from gumming up on your bit.
The needle bottles let you put a very small amount RIGHT where it goes so you can fuck that hole without any waste or mess. I also recommend having one with flux in it for... flux.
Acid flux (the kind used for plumbing) with mess up your tips if you use them w ith any regularity. If it's rosin, you'd probably get better results using an actual tip tinner.
But having a bit of liquid flux is great for tinning wires, connecting wires to solder pads, or just soldering when you don't have enough hands (usually anything requiring more than 3 hands will prove tricky). It's basically essential to have for working with SMDs.
Yeah,...this stuff's got Zinc Chloride in it. Way to steer me down the wrong path Huff. I'm actually going to checkout Smallbear right now. I've seen em mentioned plenty of times but have never visited their site.
. I also picked up a center punch. 