[Boatanchors] Drilling Holes Questions

[MICHAEL BITTNER]

Check out Paul Dye's series of "Metal Magic" videos on how to drill and otherwise work with aluminum as sponsored by Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co.

In particular this one: https://www.kitplanes.com/metal-magic-learning-to-love-the-step-drill/

A nice set of Step Drills, even cheapo ones from Harbor Freight, are truly helpful in making nice neat holes in a radio chassis. The step drills don't wander like regular drills.  Other videos in the series show how to make round instrument holes, square holes, and multiple holes in a line.

Always use a center punch, start with a very small diameter drill and then enlarge it with a larger drill or step drill.  And, don't forget to debur those holes when finished drilling.

Good luck on your project.  Mike W6MAB



> On September 22, 2022 at 7:17 PM wa9wfa <whitebear1122 at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> For my first and only large radio project, the HBR-13, I did most of the drilling at work with a Bridgeport Milling machine.  It was like heaven on earth.  I secured the chassis to the moveable table, and simply used the x-y controls to move the table right under the drill bit.  Beautiful and precision work even for a newbie builder like me.
> 
> Retired now, no access to the milling machine, and I’m getting ready to build a moderate size 7 or 8 tube superheterodyne receiver.  I don’t have a drill press but I could buy a lower end one I suppose.
> 
> I’m looking at mounting 5 or 6 HC-6 ceramic crystal sockets.  I’m looking at the size of the ceramic that fits into the holes and pondering if I can actually drill each socket hole plus the small mounting hole in the center, with any kind of accuracy.
> 
> How do you drill with any precision with a low end drill press or hand drill?  
> 
> I’m just not sure if I can drill those three holes in a row, without breaking metal in-between.  
> 
> Thanks. 73 Scott WA9WFA
> 
> 
> 
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