YAHQ - Yet another hardware question

[rampy]

What size "hole" (hole saw?) drill bit should I get to drill for buttons... I thought I read somewhere it's 1 1/8" inch, but home DePot didn't  have that (only 1 1/4")  are the
adjustable hole drilll thingies any good or should I get a fixed size?

Are the joystick holes and the button holes in a control panel the same size?

One last question (for now =P)  is the button wrench a necessity or a nicety?  Does anyone know the dimension on the button  wrench i think there's a tool in the plumbing section of Ace hardware that is for removing the nuts on shower fixtures and the like and it looks like a metal version o f the button wrench... would be interesting to know if it's the same "diameter" or size or whatnot...

Thanks for listening...  

rampy

ps I just dropped 50 more bucks at home depot on misc supplies and am hopefull to get my reconditioned cab back together soon!
http://

[J_K_M_A_N]

Yes it is 1-1/8". I found a spade bit that works fine. It isn't as good as a hole saw but.... I used the same size for my joysticks also. The black ring covers the hole quite well. I am not sure of the size of the nut for the buttons but you can get what is called a basin wrench. It would work just fine. I personally just tighten by hand then put the switch on and twist it to tighten it. It works great. It makes them very solid. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N
jkman999.tripod.com

[JustMichael]

You can use your fingers to tighten the buttons down.  Where the button wrench comes in very handy is when you don't have room for your fingers.

[Keith O]

Yeah, I used a 1-1/8" spade bit too and it works fine. Also, many are using the same size hole for the joystick but I don't know for sure what's the official size. I have two different metal cp's and the hole for the joystick is 3/4". Wood might need a bigger hole because of the joystick travel (it's broader the higher up the shaft you go). Does that make sense?

Regardless, the black plastic washer will cover up either size hole.

[hyiu]

I'm using 3/4 plywood control panel with lexan top and all my holes on control panel are 1 1/8 inch...

I got a drill bit which looks like the following...
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/1/7/1/9/A19171_3.JPG
(well... that is the wrong size bit... but it looks like that....)

make sure you do not drill all the way from 1 side.... drill 3/4 way down until the other side has the center hole, then turn around and finish the hole from the other side....
(cos if not, when the drill bit exit on the other end, it'll rip the edge and you'll not have a clean circle edge.... at least that is my experience with plywood.... don't know about MDF...)

I got my drill bit from home depot... so.. many they're out or not every store has them...

I only use my finger to tighten the buttons....

hope it helps....

[rampy]

Thank you all for your helpful comments... they'll help me get it pretty close to right the first time and save me from another 2-3 trips to the hardware store (luckily I live 1/4 mile from Aces and about a mile from a home depot... but I have limited fundage =P )

rampy

[u_rebelscum]

Thank you all for your helpful comments... they'll help me get it pretty close to right the first time and save me from another 2-3 trips to the hardware store (luckily I live 1/4 mile from Aces and about a mile from a home depot... but I have limited fundage =P )

rampy

I wasn't able to find a 1 1/8" hole saw at HomeDepot, but my local Ace had two versions, one for wood only, the other for wood, plastic & metal for 4x more than the first.  I bought the wood only one.  Sears might be an other option if there's one near you, but the sears ran higher than Aces for the hole saws.