Dotcomformat

Hi fellow dotcommers,
I have a list of question about drilling holes in the dotcom front 
panels. 
-Do you generally drill from the front or back or does this not make 
any difference? 

-Do you typically use special drill bits?

-Is a drill press absolutely necessary? Will a normal hand drill work 
just fine or does it spin too quickly?

Thanks for the tips!
-Andrew

Technically I don't think it would really matter, but I'd recomend going from the back with 
a hand drill in case you sneeze or have a tourettes attack so you won't accidentally scratch 
the front panel.  As to the drill press, more important than that is to have a center punch 
tool and make shure the hole starts out right.  Start with a smaller bit than you need and 
make a pilot hole, then work your way up to the size you need.  Although going from the 
back it might be tricky making sure the center punch is "exactly" where you need it...
Ti_

--- In dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com, "Andy" <squirrelmasterxx@...> wrote:

>
> Hi fellow dotcommers,
> I have a list of question about drilling holes in the dotcom front 
> panels. 
> -Do you generally drill from the front or back or does this not make 
> any difference? 
> 
> -Do you typically use special drill bits?
> 
> -Is a drill press absolutely necessary? Will a normal hand drill work 
> just fine or does it spin too quickly?
> 
> Thanks for the tips!
> -Andrew
>

Howdy,
 You may want to sandwich the aluminum between 2 pieces of clamped 
wood. When the drill bit comes out the bottom it will grab. And the 
thinness of the panel can mke it get ALL twisted up and bent when the 
bit grabs hold. This is for the bigger holes of course. Monting a 
mini switch should present no problems.
Rig


--- In dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com, "~Morbius~" <morbius@...> wrote:
>
> It doesn't really matter... use a sacrafice piece of wood under it. 
And use a punch or a nail to tap where the bit will start... this 
will keep it from running-off on ya. Bits... any kind that will drill 
aluminum. I suppose, in a pinch, wood bits would work... but it may 
dull the bits... a bit.
> 
> ~Morbius~
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Andy 
>   To: dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 7:32 PM
>   Subject: [dotcomformat] Drilling dotcom panels, front or back?
> 
> 
>   Hi fellow dotcommers,
>   I have a list of question about drilling holes in the dotcom 
front 
>   panels. 
>   -Do you generally drill from the front or back or does this not 
make 
>   any difference? 
> 
>   -Do you typically use special drill bits?
> 
>   -Is a drill press absolutely necessary? Will a normal hand drill 
work 

>   just fine or does it spin too quickly?
> 
>   Thanks for the tips!
>   -Andrew
>

Howdy,

 i'd recomend front to back, making sure you have a REALLY good punch 
hole to avoid bit drift. The exit side of the hole always has stuff 
left over from the bit clearing the hole. Use a much larger bit and 
lightly drill the finished hole to clean up the detritus.
rig

--- In dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com, "shari_en_jin" 
<shari_en_jin@...> wrote:
>
> Technically I don't think it would really matter, but I'd recomend 
going from the back with 
> a hand drill in case you sneeze or have a tourettes attack so you 
won't accidentally scratch 
> the front panel.  As to the drill press, more important than that 
is to have a center punch 
> tool and make shure the hole starts out right.  Start with a 
smaller bit than you need and 
> make a pilot hole, then work your way up to the size you need.  
Although going from the 
> back it might be tricky making sure the center punch is "exactly" 
where you need it...
> Ti_
> 
> --- In dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com, "Andy" <squirrelmasterxx@> 
wrote:
> >
> > Hi fellow dotcommers,
> > I have a list of question about drilling holes in the dotcom 
front 
> > panels. 
> > -Do you generally drill from the front or back or does this not 
make 
> > any difference? 
> > 
> > -Do you typically use special drill bits?
> > 
> > -Is a drill press absolutely necessary? Will a normal hand drill 
work 

> > just fine or does it spin too quickly?
> > 
> > Thanks for the tips!
> > -Andrew
> >
>

I have drilled a crapload of panels. I didnt have a
press (now i do...it REALLY makes things easier, mine
even has a laser guide and was only 100.00 at sears)
I used to take a scrap 2x4 about 1 foot in length,
place the panel on top of it and take a nail and punch
the center (aluminum is soft enough that this will
work) then hand drill from front to back. You'll want
to do front to back to make sure everything is
centered...if it's slightly off you'll notice it big
time when you put the knob on (not that i did
that...;) )Just take it slow and you'll do fine. 
Josh


 
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