Hi all,
So, I goofed a drill hole size on a custom drill order from PPP. I meant to write down 3/8", but I had 9/32" stuck in my head for some reason. Needless to say, that's a bit small for 1/4" jacks!
Would it be possible to grab one of those step drill bits from Harbor Freight and just use it with my cordless hand drill to enlarge the hole? If so, are there any basic or not-so-obvious pointers for the first-timer?
Thanks,
Bret
Do you have a reamer bit for your drill? I'd get one of those and just ream it out to fit.
George
I don't have one of those at the moment, but it sounds like an option. Let me google that...
And thanks for the speedy reply! :)
sure thing. before i got a drill press i drilled all holes with a hand drill and a step bit.
make sure your box is clamped down. it can be done handheld but more often than not the drillbit would wander offcenter, even with a pilot hole.
clamped down, not so much.
make sure you only push down and not to the sides and it should work fine.
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Quote from: Bret608 on August 13, 2013, 07:08:50 AM
Would it be possible to grab one of those step drill bits from Harbor Freight and just use it with my cordless hand drill to enlarge the hole?
Yes. I have a drill press but still hand drill with step bits as well.
Josh
Thanks all, feeling way better about this now. Luckily, I do have some clamps, and it looks like Harbor Freight even has these step bits on sale!
I only use a hand drill (cordless screwdriver actually) and a step bit. I don't even clamp. I just sharpie the intent and hold the box in one hand and the drill in the other. The step bit works great for reaming out holes and "sliding" an off-center hole over. The key to keeping it from walking away from you is to go super slow until the pilot teeth make a dent.
Quote from: calciferspit on August 13, 2013, 07:51:18 AM
I only use a hand drill (cordless screwdriver actually) and a step bit. I don't even clamp. I just sharpie the intent and hold the box in one hand and the drill in the other. The step bit works great for reaming out holes and "sliding" an off-center hole over. The key to keeping it from walking away from you is to go super slow until the pilot teeth make a dent.
The same here! Hold tide with the other hand and go slowly! Just do a small hole with a small bit first!
Cheers
Quote from: muddyfox on August 13, 2013, 07:15:46 AM
make sure you only push down and not to the sides and it should work fine.
Don't push down - just let the weight of the drill push itself down.
Bret, if your hole is already drilled and you just need to go one size bigger, you don't even need a step bit, just a 3/8" bit.
Never use a step bit or drill press. All done by hand. I start by punching a dimple in the location I want. Then with a small bit I work myself up to the bigger size I want. Probably done about 30 enclosures and only had a bit hop once. Of course I have now doomed my next enclosure. :o
I use the 60.00 drill press from harbor freight. Inning live with it and I never want to go back to drilling by hand! (Much like real life too!) ahahahahaha I'll be here all week, remember to tip your waitress......
Quote from: Gledison on August 13, 2013, 08:25:44 AM
Quote from: calciferspit on August 13, 2013, 07:51:18 AM
I only use a hand drill (cordless screwdriver actually) and a step bit. I don't even clamp. I just sharpie the intent and hold the box in one hand and the drill in the other. The step bit works great for reaming out holes and "sliding" an off-center hole over. The key to keeping it from walking away from you is to go super slow until the pilot teeth make a dent.
The same here! Hold tide with the other hand and go slowly! Just do a small hole with a small bit first!
Cheers
Another 'same here' on this! Just be really sure to hold down the box
very, very tightly!!!! If (or should I say when) you let the box slip it will spin along with your drill and it will hurt your hand/head/eyes, or all of the above..... wear safety goggles!!!
Paul
Thanks again, all! I just called the guitar store across the street from where I work, and they told me they had a unibit and would show me how to use it. I just took my enclosure over there and the tech did it in about two seconds, and didn't even want me to pay anything. He just used the hand-held method some of you described. I must get one of those for myself!
For an aside, the box is for my JMK Standard Fuzz, and the tech who helped me do this told me he bought a Univox Superfuzz brand-new in 1966 and that it was stolen two days later! I think when I've boxed it I'll take it over there and let them give it a go.
Quote from: Bret608 on August 13, 2013, 12:08:46 PM
Thanks again, all! I just called the guitar store across the street from where I work, and they told me they had a unibit and would show me how to use it. I just took my enclosure over there and the tech did it in about two seconds, and didn't even want me to pay anything. He just used the hand-held method some of you described. I must get one of those for myself!
For an aside, the box is for my JMK Standard Fuzz, and the tech who helped me do this told me he bought a Univox Superfuzz brand-new in 1966 and that it was stolen two days later! I think when I've boxed it I'll take it over there and let them give it a go.
Do you work across a Guitar shop? WTF? how can you work? i would have my lunch breaks in the guitar shop...hehehehe
You need sometime like this if you dont have enough money for a drill press. i have one of this and is very helpful with a hand drill.
Just go the cheap route and get a hand reamer. Not any more effort really and you can use it to clean up sloppy holes.
The reamer is really the only way you're going to get truly accurately sized holes anyways as you can sneak up on the fit. Threaded bushings seem to always be some odd size that requires drilling an oversized hole, then there's painting and clearcoating, the hole fills with those and shrinks in size so you have to clean up/resize the hole again... reamer, indispensible.
I've heard tales of holding one of these puppies by hand and if that bit grabs the pain it can offer up on one's hand/fingers/shin and God forbid BALLS :-X is not worth it to me. I just use one of those hand pump clamps. The downside of an accident one time (broken fret finger ?) for outweighs the 3 seconds it takes to clamp that sucker down.
Sumbitch will spin around and leave its mark. I've done it several times. Since then I got a drill press.
ive got a drill press and still clamp them down hard. im very short on luck these days as it is, why push it when all it takes is one clamp...
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I use one of these to hold the enclosure. http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=476517 I centre punch and drill a small pilot hole. Then use two more drill bits to make a 4mm hole. I then use a step drill. First step is 4mm so this fits exactly. From then on its easy. I then use a reamer to enlarge any holes that need it. Mainly plastic jacks and some power sockets.
The trick is to gradually enlarge the holes and don't drill too quickly. Make use of the drills torque setting (if it has one). Use low torque when using small drill bits and increase when using the step drill.
I get some very clean and accurate holes using this method. Haven't ruined a single enclosure yet. Or drilled any body parts!
Quote from: jimilee on August 14, 2013, 02:28:56 PM
Sumbitch will spin around and leave its mark. I've done it several times. Since then I got a drill press.
That's why i only use a cordless screwdriver. It doesn't have enough balls to grab and pull the piece out of my grip, but still enough to work through the whole step bit in about 10 seconds.
Great advice. While a drill press is nice, you certainly can use a hand drill (cordless or whatever). Speaking of Harbor Freight, I find that this T-Handle Reamer is one of the best tools for enlarging holes slightly. Step bits are great too, however this guy is only $3.00 and works wonders when you need just a little wiggle room:
http://www.harborfreight.com/t-handle-reamer-66936.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/t-handle-reamer-66936.html)
It even fits in a drill chuck if you wish.
Hey, I'm sorry I didn't see this before! I appreciate it--there is a Harbor Freight right near where I live, so I will pick one up.
I love that they almost constantly have those 20% off coupons in the newspaper.