Author Topic: Drill bit for buttons !? (Read 6329 times)

brianoneill · « **on:** April 22, 2004, 03:23:18 pm »

OK, so I need a 1 1/8th" Drill Bit to drill into my 3/4" thick CP for the Happs pushbuttons.

I went to my local DIY store (Homebase in Ireland) but all the drill bits are in millimetres.

Fine you say. How many mm in an inch...28mm

But all the bits thay had were in standard sizes 22mm, 25mm and 32mm. None in 28mm !

So, am I wrong about the 1 1/8th inch ? Do I need another size ?
OR...
Does this store just not have a very good selection ?

Help much appreciated

Also, whats the best way to tighten/loosen the nut on a pushbutton ?

Cheers.

hyiu · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2004, 03:29:07 pm »

well... I'm in US.... so... can't provide much help in helping you buy the hole drilling bit....

but if you can afford crazy shipping price... you can surf the web... I'm sure some site will sell no matter where you are...

as for tightening the nut for the button....
use your own hand and finger is good enough....
no need for other tools....

kahlid74 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2004, 03:30:20 pm »

yeah, you would need a 28.575 mm size hole saw. I would try to grab it online honestly in the inch format, or look for a store a little further away that has more of a selection.

Ovalblue · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2004, 03:33:43 pm »

wouldnt you want to purchase the 32mm drill bit at that store?
28mm in an inch
3.5 mm in an 1/8 of an inch
= 31.5 mm

wj2k3 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2004, 03:56:13 pm »

25.4 mm per inch.
need a 1.13 inch mounting hole per Happ's site.
equates to a 28.7 mm hole needed.

The bezel on the button is 1.3 inches (33 mm) so a 32 mm drill bit only leaves 1 mm to support the button.

I would search for a store with a better selection or order the inch version.

-wj2k3

bionicbadger · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2004, 04:19:55 pm »

I think I used a 30mm Forstner bit for my buttons and it worked fine. Fine a place with a bigger selection as suggested.

patrickl · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2004, 04:29:16 pm »

He, he, yeah those damned inches are really annoying.

I could find a 28mm spade bit, but of course that didn't fit. In the end I ordered a 1 1/8" forstner bit from MLCS. The forstner bits make nicer holes than spade bits. I guess shipping costs will be higher than the bit though.

While on the subject of hard to find bits, do you want to install t-molding? You'll need a 1/16" slot cutter for that. You better order that in the same shipment if you need one. Allthough you'll then also need a router that can take a 1/4"or 1/2" shank.

SirPeale · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2004, 04:35:46 pm »

brianoneill: check your PM

ChrisRoberts · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2004, 04:20:03 am »

I tried homebase aswell, with no luck!...

Our local homebase is tiny though, so I though it was just them being rubbish.

B&Q sold them though

My buttons were from happ & they worked fine with a 28mm bit, a nice snug fit too.

brianoneill · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2004, 04:21:01 am »

I'm gonna have a good look around this weekend to find them

brianoneill · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:09:46 am »

I went and got a 28mm. Is this too small ?
Does it have to be exact ?

If I got a 30mm ? Woudl that work ?

RedboX · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:29:34 am »

I picked up a 28mm bit from B&Q, it works fine for me

brianoneill · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:37:26 am »

ahhhh.....now I'm all confused

Not to worry

I guess the best way to find out...is a trial run.

I'll unscrew a button from my shiny new SlikStik and try mount it on a piece of wood with the 28mm spade bit.

So, whats the best way to unscrew a pushbutton ?

wj2k3 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:49:38 am »

Righty-Tighty.

Lefty-Loosy

brianoneill · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2004, 10:03:19 am »

ha ...ha ...ha

NickS · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2004, 11:14:14 am »

Quote from: brianoneill on April 22, 2004, 03:23:18 pm

OK, so I need a 1 1/8th" Drill Bit to drill into my 3/4" thick CP for the Happs pushbuttons.

I went to my local DIY store (Homebase in Ireland) but all the drill bits are in millimetres.

Fine you say. How many mm in an inch...28mm

But all the bits thay had were in standard sizes 22mm, 25mm and 32mm. None in 28mm !

So, am I wrong about the 1 1/8th inch ? Do I need another size ?
OR...
Does this store just not have a very good selection ?

Help much appreciated

Also, whats the best way to tighten/loosen the nut on a pushbutton ?

Cheers.

I managed to find a 28mm bit at my local Homebase but it was a while ago. Try a specialist DIY or Hardware shop as they tend to carry a larger range of theses types of items.

patrickl · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2004, 11:29:32 am »

Actually I got both a 28mm and a 30mm spade bit. The 28mm was a tad too narrow and the 30mm too wide. The 28mm worked best after some extra enlarging of the holes, but it wasn't easy nor pretty. The investment in a proper 1 1/8" forstner bit might be overspending, but it sure makes things a lot easier.

fredster · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2004, 01:55:14 pm »

they only have ONE hardware store in Ireland?!?

brianoneill · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2004, 05:03:43 am »

Quote from: fredster on April 23, 2004, 01:55:14 pm

they only have ONE hardware store in Ireland?!?

yes

Course not. Its just a handy store for me

Anyway, the 28mm I picked up worked perfectly. The buttons couldn't fit any better. I've modified my new SlikStik with two more buttons which makes it now even better.

Thanks for all the help.

jerschwab · « **Reply #19 on:** September 01, 2004, 03:06:48 am »

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to share the bit that I'm using for cutting the button and joystick holes. I'm not sure the name of it, but it's adjustable and works well with laminate. The trick if you have laminate already applied, to cut the top part until the laminate comes off in the size of the hole, then do the rest of the cutting from the underside.

Also, in one of the drill accessories kits I bought, it came with a 1 1/8 (probably a standard size) round sanding bit. Works very nicely for cleaning up the hole after drilling!

The pic is attached. The very top left is a sample hole I cut, then the second hole is one that is in progress. The drill has the sanding bit attached, and the other cross shaped piece is the adjustable hole bit.

If anyone wants one of these adjustable bits, I may be able get them for about $12 shipped! The bit is adjustable from 1 1/16" to about 4". There is also another bit that attaches on the end for cutting holes in really thin material (like just laminate or something).

teef two · « **Reply #20 on:** September 01, 2004, 05:40:42 am »

If anyone in the UK needs Forstner bits then you might be interested in this ebay auction (not mine, just been searching)

Imperial forstner bits:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=303&item=4306360212

patrickl · « **Reply #21 on:** September 01, 2004, 06:07:11 am »

Wow that is a good deal yes. I paid $40 for (what looks like exactly) the same set from MLCS woodworking.

rchadd · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2004, 07:15:57 am »

the hole saws from homebase are either too small or large 25mm, 30mm or 35mm

i had to cut the hole and then use a rasp (sp?) to make the holes big enough.

Robopede · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2004, 07:32:58 am »

Quote from: jerschwab on September 01, 2004, 03:06:48 am

If anyone wants one of these adjustable bits, I may be able get them for about $12 shipped! The bit is adjustable from 1 1/16" to about 4". There is also another bit that attaches on the end for cutting holes in really thin material (like just laminate or something).

This might be even more useful for trackball holes - I just bought a 3 1/2" hole saw from Lowe's (a local home improvement store) for $23. Pretty outrageous, eh?

pointdablame · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2004, 10:54:49 am »

yeah, that could come in really handy for a trackball. That seems like a real nice price too.

jerschwab · « **Reply #25 on:** September 02, 2004, 06:14:28 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on September 01, 2004, 10:54:49 am

yeah, that could come in really handy for a trackball. That seems like a real nice price too.

Yeah, and probably speaker holes too... I can get lots of these things, I'm going to post something in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum.


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