MOTM

>>The reason I've given up drilling holes in Stooge panels is that I don't 
have a drill press, and a punch and hand drill did not produce results that I 
was proud of.<<

Just wanted to say that I'm able to drill beautiful and professional looking 
holes with a hand drill by using one of those odd looking drill bits (forgot 
what they're called) that looks like an stack of increasing sized cylinders. 
One bit can drill many different sized holes depending to what cylinder size 
you drill up to on the bit. And because there is an angled section between 
each cylinder size, that part works great for taking off any rough edge on 
the back of the drilled hole. No filing needed. I used it on LH's 822's. I'll 
also be using it for drilling Midi connector holes in synths.

-Elhardt

> Just wanted to say that I'm able to drill beautiful and 
professional looking 
> holes with a hand drill by using one of those odd looking drill 
bits (forgot 
> what they're called) that looks like an stack of increasing sized 
cylinders. 
And because there is an angled section between 
> each cylinder size, that part works great for taking off any rough 
edge on 
> the back of the drilled hole

This is called a step bit.  It can be a VERY useful tool as it will 
cover a number of standard hole sizes.  If you have a metric and 
standard size version, you should be well prepared.

In addition, those drilling should have an inexpensive tool called a 
deburring tool.  Available at any hardware store, this looks like a 
screw driver handle with a swiveling, angled knife at the end.  Not 
only will this deburr and radius your drilled hole, but you can use 
it to enlarge a just-a-bit-too-small opening.  It gives your work a 
professional look and is much easier (and much better looking!) than 
filing.  For the MOTM Extremist (you know who you are), it helps 
preserve the structural integrity of the panel by preventing stress 
risers that are caused by anomolies on surfaces and edges.  Read 
Carrol Smith's "Engineer to Win".  No, really...

Chub-structurally sound but behaviorally skewed