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Hey DIY'ers. Aside from drill presses, what are you folks using to drill your enclosures?

i remember seeing stan just using a handheld power screwdriver with a drill bit, but that seems like the kind of thing that requires practice...

indeed, during the DIY portion of our NYC jam yesterday (you were tardy for that Kosta sir) i put a starve knob in deadman's hype using only a cheap handheld drill and one of these....

http://www.google.com/products?q=unibit+drill+bit&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=eLHZS4nAMML38Aauy81M&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQzAMwAg

known as unibits or step drill bits, they drill steel in steps for different size holes....

if you do it this way it's good to use a large box to drill inside of to avoid getting steel shards everywhere and to pre-tap your holes so the bit doesn't go flying off the edge of the box..

That makes sense. I think my pop has an extra dremel-type tool he was gonna give me too. (Having an electrician / ee Dad rules for DIY'ing...)

yeah i usually use some sort of contraption i made with a vice grip and a little stand over a cardboard box or ill vice grip it to the shitty table in my basement and just put the box under it as close as i can. but since im in a basement it usually doesnt matter. sometimes you can get lucky and get a full set of drill bits from the home depot for cheap thats what i ended up doing and i have any size i would need.

my biggest problem is that my drill is way too fast. i haven't found a slower speed drill that allows you to use larger sizes (3/8 and up) .
seems like a press is really the best way to go for clean precise holes anyway.

I hand drill everything, don't even have a unibit. Then use a dremel for smaller/detail work if needed. Still practicing hand engraving with the dremel .

I use a cordless power drill and a Unibit. The trick to getting clean holes and not walking the bit is to measure everything at least twice, use a pin vise or a center punch to actually put an indentation in the box to set the bit into, and go slowly at first. I drill all my holes to the smallest size on the Unibit, then open them up to the necessary size. If something is a little off, I can put pressure on the drill to move the hole over a bit.

I have to admit we've got a pretty sharp DIY group here at ILF....

stanimal wrote:I have to admit we've got a pretty sharp DIY group here at ILF....

Indeed we do! and for those without a center punch thought i'd mention, since mine went blunt i've found a large nail and hammer works fine for a few holes and a quick sharpen with a file if it goes blunt, there's always a way round things...

And when using standard drill or any bits really a circular file can tidy them up nicely and get rid of sharp/ jagged edges.

Plus don't forget safety when drilling metal, face protection to invoid inhaling metal dust is a really good idea as are goggles for any shards that might fly off.

(On another note, wooo, my FAMOUS post)

Thanks peeps. Very much appreciated! Scruffie - you're famous, son!