AWWWWWWWWWW RATS!!!!!

[smashinator]

After spending X number of hours sanding a box to the perfect "brushed aluminum" look, I sat down to stamp in the text. 

Trusty hammer, check.  Letter stamps, check.  Hammond box sanded to perfection, check.

Stamped the first letter "V" with no problem.  Stamp the "O" and the stupd box cracked and crumpled in on itself.   

It was intended to be a christmas present, but I guess that's not going to happen (needed to mail it tomorrow)....

[petemoore]

  Bummer..well...
  Use something as an anvil...really hard wood clamped in a vise to support under the top.
    maybe you can turn the box around, so the pots or whatever have a flat mount place, 'gently' straighten the crack a little if necessary and use bondo to get back to a nice flat top.

[vanhansen]

Sorry to hear that, man.  I guess your handle is fitting.. 
Keep something under the top when doing those stamps.  Make a block of wood that the enclosure can fit over.  Doesn't matter if the wood sticks out too far from the bottom, in fact you want it to.  This is so when you smack those stamps the wood will absorb some of the energy.
I hope you can get it straightened out.

[Paul Marossy]

Die cast things don't usually take too well to letter punches. Cast iron and steel take better to that sort of thing. Live and learn.

[jrem]

next time be sure to back it up, i.e., you need a solid piece of steel underneith it, clamped into a vice.  Find someone who works in a machine shop and they'll more than likely give you some scrap you can use.  Or get some step blocks from an industrial supplier, like mcmaster-carr.

[nelson]

When I was using a crude hole punch hammer combo I managed to put a large hole in an aluminium box. I just used it to house a circuit that I was border line not boxing up and just decorated it with sharpie. I have alot of aluminium enclosures though. Got them cheap in bulk off ebay. Evatron enclosures, same size as 1590B, and shiney chrome.

[smashinator]

What's really funny is that I just finished another blacksmithing class and knew better that to just start beating on that metal with nothing to support it.  It looks pretty unsalvageable for use as a gift, but I'll probably box something up in it for my own use.

Sorry to hear that, man.  I guess your handle is fitting.. 

Don't I know it.   

I've had a little time to cool down.  I'll probably hit up Antique Electronics or Circuit Specialists on my way home from work on Monday and try again.  I guess it'll just be a little late.  Or, I could just send him a cd. 

Nelson, I'll check out these "Evatron" enclosures you speak of....

[nelson]

Nelson, I'll check out these "Evatron" enclosures you speak of....

Its a British company. Dont think you will get them in the states.

I got 15 for 25 pounds inc shipping and vat. I wont need to buy 1590B enclosures for a while 

Its the perfect excuse to get all zvex styley and try and fit ALL my circuits in the 1590B size box.