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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: fuzzmonger on February 06, 2013, 01:43:12 PM

Title: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: fuzzmonger on February 06, 2013, 01:43:12 PM
Howdy,

I've got myself some gorgeous extruded enclosures from china for fuzzmongery and a thought just occurred to me - as these are four-sided with no removable top / bottom piece, how on earth do I use my long stepped drill bit without drilling through to the other side?

Are there any 12mm drill bits that'll go through 2mm aluminium without the long taper / steps?

-Fuzzmonger
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: EATyourGuitar on February 06, 2013, 02:12:52 PM
this seems pretty obvious but have you tried a 12mm drill bit?

http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Metric-Jobber-Length-Drill/dp/B0006FIAMY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360177916&sr=8-1&keywords=12mm+drill+bit
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: scuzzphut on February 06, 2013, 02:44:56 PM
Any link or photos ? I'm having a hard time imagining how you'll get the PCB, pots and switch in there without a removeable lid  :icon_eek:
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: fuzzmonger on February 06, 2013, 03:00:29 PM
Bit like these things - an extruded box-section with removable sideplates. Little harder to work with but it was good enough for Carlsbro pedals and the Fender Blender.
http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/215046605.html

Yeah, seemed like the obvious answer to me but I wanted to find out if you could drill a 12mm hole without drilling a series of smaller holes first. Any thoughts?

-Fuzzmonger
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: slacker on February 06, 2013, 03:04:51 PM
I use an ordinary 12mm drill bit, works fine just drill a small pilot hole first to centre it.
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: samhay on February 06, 2013, 03:06:11 PM
I use a 10mm and 12mm drill bit all the time. It is advisable to drill a pilot hole first - perhaps 2.5mm - but otherwise I don't drill the hole out in increments.

Edit: Slacker beat me to it.
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: senko on February 06, 2013, 06:11:35 PM
Your drill press should have a depth limit guard that allows you to drill at maximum only one layer

If you're not using a drill press (highly recommended), I'd suggest doing the pilot hole technique. 
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: boogietone on February 06, 2013, 11:53:00 PM
Pilot hole even with a drill press helps.
Title: Re: Drilling extruded enclosures with no removable baseplate
Post by: senko on February 07, 2013, 03:23:31 PM
Also, using an expander step bit (not sure of the exact nomenclature) works great with pilot holes.  Absolutely magical!