Bits for drilling button holes.

[Gatsu]

For cutting/drilling standard Happ & Sanwa button holes in a control panel, the measurement is 1  3/16's right.

So I go into Home Depot and Lowes and look at all their drill bits and whatnot. Nothing.

So I would imagine its a piece you can't find in any old hardware store then right? Where can I get one then?

Thanky.

[4Aaron GE]

1 1/8" for the holes.

[csa3d]

While we're on this subject, how important is it to use a drill press for button drilling vs. doing it by hand, assuming 3/4" wood?  I suspect the answer is going to be "better with a drillpress, doing without" but am taking a poll I suppose.

-csa

[DarkBubble]

For an 1-1/8" hole, whether wood or metal control panel, I'd recommend an 1-1/8" holesaw.  As far as the better way to go, it all depends on how steady your hand is with a drill.  If you've got access to a drill press, I'd go with it.  Wood's cheap, so if you don't want to plunk down money on even a small tabletop drill press for only a handful of holes, you might as well practice on some scraps of the same type that you're going to be cutting holes in.

[fixedpigs]

no drill bit...

you need a forstner bit or a hole saw...

i prefer a forstner bit with a drill press...ideal...

[javeryh]

I use a 1-1/8" forstner bit and drill by hand.  I don't think having a drill press makes any difference at all since the bezel around the button will cover any imperfections in your drilling.  That said, it's really really really easy to drill perfect button holes even if you've never used a drill in your life.

[fixedpigs]

I don't think having a drill press makes any difference at all...

i bet you i can drill out ten button holes with my drill press faster than you can with your hand drill...-=)

[Gatsu]

well no friggin wonder I can't find a bit....its the wrong friggin size anyways.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Lemme ask this to make sure I haven't totally screwed up my control panel so far.

How big of a hole to I need to cut for the joystick then? Its gonna be undermounted.

[javeryh]

I don't think having a drill press makes any difference at all...

i bet you i can drill out ten button holes with my drill press faster than you can with your hand drill...-=)

Heh, that's true... but I bet the panel will look the same!   

[4Aaron GE]

How big of a hole to I need to cut for the joystick then? Its gonna be undermounted.

I'm fairly certain that's also 1 1/8.

[scotthh]

If you have a drill press, use it. Don't buy a drill press for this use alone. Also, a spade bit in a hand held drill can do a perfectly good job as well.

I used the same 1 1/8" bit for the holes for my joysticks as well. Are you going to use the dust washer (another can of worms debate). If you use it on top of your CP, you'll never see the hole. The most important thing about the hole for the joystick is that the shaft isn't restricted because it's pressing into the wood. The size of the hole depends on your joystick's throw and if you mount the stick on the wood or in a routed recess.  If you're planning on mounting the stick directly on the wood, test it out after you drill a button hole. If the hole is big enough, use it for your sticks.

[Gatsu]

thanks for the quick replys and helping me out.

I'm gonna have to bondo up the joystick hole I've already cut...but better than having to recut and a re-sand a new piece.

It is appreciated. I can finally get my mini-stick finished this week.

[ScottS]

A nice compromise between doing things by hand and spending $$$ for a drill press is to use a drill guide. One nice advantage a drill guide has over a drill press is that you can position it anywhere; with a drill press you're limited by the distance from the column to the quill. If you decide to buy one of these, do shop around are there are several variations and price-points available. I'd look for one that had as little plastic as possible, even if it meant paying a bit more.

[csa3d]

wow.  That's kinda cool Scott.  At 40$ though, it's a tough call between that and an el' cheapo press.  Think that would handle a hole saw big enough to cut trackball holes?  (I didn't see dimensional specs anywhere on there)

-csa

[ScottS]

Unfortunately, you're not going to find a cheap-o drill press that has a decent "throw" (= distance from the column to the spindle) or much accuracy. Shop around for drill guides, though. The Woodcraft one is on the more expensive end. I think Rockler has one for around $30 and you can probably get them cheaper from Grizzly or Harbor Freight; maybe $20 for the cheapest ones.

I'm not sure what the capacity is, but I'm not sure if it matters. Most hole saws have a pilot bit in the middle. You could use the drill guide to make sure the pilot hole is straight, then attach the hole saw and drill the full-size hole. As long as the pilot hole is straight, the hole saw cut should also cut reasonably straight.

[csa3d]

Links to aforementioned drill presses as follows:

Harbor Freight 22$
Rockler 33$
Woodcraft $38

Harbor freight one looks like plastic.  My instincts tell me to not waist my money here.
Rockler is currently sold out, but seems like metal, which I would assume is more desirable.
Woodcraft at the top of the price charts, seems like metal and is available.  Might grab one of these, I can see many uses for this around the house.

Opinions on these options?

Thanks again.
-csa

[bigh4th]

This is my first post, but i've been lurking for a while getting hints and what-not for my cocktail cabinet I'm building.

Anyways, DarthGatsu:

If you have access to a Radial Arm Saw, you can probably buy a key-chuck to go on it to use as a drill press as well.  Although my sears doesn't stock any that will fit my craftsman RAS my grandfather got in 68, as long as it has the same thread as the auxilary shaft on the motor, any chuck will work.

if not and you are contemplating getting a drill press, I personaly would just get a good USED RAS as will do everything a drill press will do and a lot of other things as well.  You can get a GOOD cast-iron RAS used from $75 and up on craigslist and the like.  Just stay away from the ones where the support boom/arm (the top piece the motor carriage slides on) are made from stamped sheet metal. 

-Harry

[Austin.Wolff]

Links to aforementioned drill presses as follows:

Harbor Freight 22$
Rockler 33$
Woodcraft $38

Harbor freight one looks like plastic.  My instincts tell me to not waist my money here.
Rockler is currently sold out, but seems like metal, which I would assume is more desirable.
Woodcraft at the top of the price charts, seems like metal and is available.  Might grab one of these, I can see many uses for this around the house.

Opinions on these options?

Thanks again.
-csa

Looks like a nice, cheap option to a drill press.  Still won't be the same in effect it should be.  I might pick up one of the Rockler ones.

[ScottS]

Harbor freight one looks like plastic.  My instincts tell me to not waist my money here.
Rockler is currently sold out, but seems like metal, which I would assume is more desirable.
Woodcraft at the top of the price charts, seems like metal and is available.  Might grab one of these, I can see many uses for this around the house.

Sears also sells one. Looks similar to the Rockler and is $26.99. Item #00967173000. Amazon has a seemingly identical one made by "Wolfcraft" for $23.78. And a couple from General Tools that are slightly more money and get worse reviews. I'd avoid the plastic Harbor Freight model; most of their tools are complete junk and I'd guess this is no exception. If you had a local Sears or Rockler, it might be worth buying from them just because returning it would be easy if it doesn't work well. If not, I'd probably buy from Amazon. Pick-up a center punch while you're at it; it'll improve the accuracy of the drill guide and qualify you for free shipping...

[infiniteomega]

I only skimmed the thread, so maybe this has already been said but happ and sanwa parts use different sized holes.  You need 1 1/8" like everyone else has stated for happ parts, and you were correct on the 1 3/16" size for sanwa parts.  That said, happ buttons will fit in the 1 3/16" hole, they'll just be loose fitting since the hole is 1/16" too big.

[Dudeman]

I've got the drill guide from Woodcraft.

I like it... BUT...

It is made out of plastic. The guides and the chuck are metal. It does a decent job on the holes. I used it to drill all the holes for the cam locks on my cab. There are stops you can position where you want so you'll get the same depth everytime.

Clamps are a MUST. It jumps around too much if you don't clamp it down. It has spikes on it to hold onto the work surface, but why would I want to put extra holes in my wood? (oh... bad mental picture ) Plus, I don't think they'd hold very good.