Drilling the top-plate

Jeb Jeb · 1473

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Jeb Jeb

  • Full Member
  • ***
    • Posts: 89
on: May 25, 2015, 07:20:49 AM
Hi guys -sorry for another rookie DIY question:  just wondered how easy is it to drill through the aluminium top plate of the Crack with a regular (but pretty decent) cordless hand-drill and HSS drill-bit?  Can I just leave the plate in situ on the wooden base, clamp it down,  and then carefully drill through or does it really require a proper drill-press.

I ask because I don't want to make a mess of my top-plate with experimenting, so any advice and drilling tips would be great !   I'm not looking to drill large holes - just some small 5-6mm holes to secure the top plate to pieces of wood with threaded inserts fitted to the insides of the wooden base. 

Cheers!

Jeb.

 :)

James Barker,
UK


Offline Nathan

  • Full Member
  • ***
    • Posts: 204
Reply #1 on: May 25, 2015, 07:43:42 AM
I've drilled the top plate with a hand drill - it was very easy.

Crack/Speedball, SEX 2.1/C4S, Bryston BHA-1

Sennheiser HD600/Cardas cable, Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen, Hifimam HE560/Hifiman balanced cable


Offline fullheadofnothing

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 1487
  • A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man
Reply #2 on: May 25, 2015, 08:12:34 AM
A cordless drill will certainly work. The rest of your plan sounds like a recipe for disaster, though. One slip and you've messed up your base...

Clamp your plate to a piece of scrap wood to give the bit something to go into on the other side and you will get a cleaner hole. Don't forget to center punch to prevent wandering.

Joshua Harris

I Write the Manuals That Make The Whole World Sing
Kit Packer Emeritus


Offline Jeb Jeb

  • Full Member
  • ***
    • Posts: 89
Reply #3 on: May 25, 2015, 08:53:12 AM
Thank you guys!  Great tips!  Much appreciated.    :)

James Barker,
UK