Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: LPZ on December 29, 2005, 09:02:11 am
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Just wanted to know if there is anybody out there that is willing to let me borrow their 3.25" hole saw to make a hole in my CP for my happs trackball. I hate to buy one for $25 and probably use it only once. I know a man's tools are kinda personal to them, but I thought I'd give it a shot. Anyway, I will pay shipping both ways, and throw in a couple of items for free for the usage(i.e. buttons, connectors, etc.)
thanks,
LPZ
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Just as a thought, I bought a hole cutter that's designed (I think) for a drill-press. It's basically a drill bit with an arm that connects to an adjustable metal cutter (so you can change the radius of the hole. IIRC, the bit cost me about $8.
Get ready for some ascii art:
(bit)
||
|| (arm)
||__________||__
||---------------||---
|| ||
|| ||
\/ |/
(cutter)
Anyway, I bought this instead of a holesaw. I didn't see the sense in paying $25 for something I'd use once either. Instead, I paid about $8 for something I used once. ;)
Anyway, if you'd like to try it, I'm sure it'd cost less than shipping someone else's holesaw back and forth.
As a side note, I believe I used my drill in reverse when using this, but in retrospect, it's probably not necessary. Just use your drill at a semi-slow speed and all should be well.
Edit: made ascii art a little clearer... (maybe?)
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I might have one that size. Seems like we used one about that size for a PVC drain. If so, I doubt I'll need it anytime in the next few weeks. I'll check tonight, and be happy to send it out to ya if I do have one that big. Your not in St. Louis are ya?
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Another place you might want to check is your local Freecycle chapter. You might be lucky and find someone in your local community would lend you this.
http://www.freecycle.org/
Look to see if your city is there and post the same post you did here.
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Just wanted to know if there is anybody out there that is willing to let me borrow their 3.25" hole saw to make a hole in my CP for my happs trackball.
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I got something like that from HarborFreight for much less than $25 for a single 3.35" holesaw. The one I got had three outer cutting tips which would side in and out to make bigger or smaller holes. Popped it into my cordless drill and cut some ~4" holes for a different application.
If you've got a HF locally, check them out. I'm pretty sure they've got a multi-holesaw kit for like $5-$8, but I don't think it includes a 3.25". I think they have one that goes to 3.5" though.
Just as a thought, I bought a hole cutter that's designed (I think) for a drill-press. It's basically a drill bit with an arm that connects to an adjustable metal cutter (so you can change the radius of the hole. IIRC, the bit cost me about $8.
Get ready for some ascii art:
(bit)
||
|| (arm)
||__________||__
||---------------||---
|| ||
|| ||
\/ |/
(cutter)
Anyway, I bought this instead of a holesaw. I didn't see the sense in paying $25 for something I'd use once either. Instead, I paid about $8 for something I used once. ;)
Anyway, if you'd like to try it, I'm sure it'd cost less than shipping someone else's holesaw back and forth.
As a side note, I believe I used my drill in reverse when using this, but in retrospect, it's probably not necessary. Just use your drill at a semi-slow speed and all should be well.
Edit: made ascii art a little clearer... (maybe?)
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Thanks for all the help fellas.
Quarterback--Checked the local harbor frieght. Every size except 3 1/4.
Jabba--Just thought I'd deal with the local BYOAC
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Jabba-Wanted to deal with the local BYOAC first. Since there is an outpouring of help, I'd rather help each other out and throw a bone to a local member for a helping hand.
I will pm lama to get some shipping info for his bit. It seems interesting to try out and plus it's adjustable for a perfect hole.
Again, thank guys for the quick help. It's great to deal with a bunch of enthusiasts like myself, that are willing to lend a hand when it's needed.
LPZ
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Well, I feel rather sheepish.... If anyone wants to try the tool I used, it's called... <drumroll> a "Circle Cutter" ..... /sigh
So, now you know what to ask for in your hardware store... a "circle cutter" for a drillpress. :-X
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I might be mistaken, but doesn't the Happ 3" trackball require a 3" hole (not 3.25")?
I cut the opening for my 3" Happ with a router (chamfer bit) using an MDF template made with a 3" hole saw.
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I tried a 3", but the hole did not accomodate the black case that the ball is in. I measured with a micrometer, and it comes out to 3.25 to accomodate it.
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Thanks for all the help fellas.
Quarterback--Checked the local harbor frieght. Every size except 3 1/4.
Sorry, when I said "something like that", I was actually referring to the post that I quoted with the ASCII drawing of a resizable hole cutter. My HF had a couple of them. I'll take a pic of the one I bought.
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Here's a pic. Like I said, my HF had a couple different ones. In my first post I said I got the one with three cutters, but that's incorrect. I got the one with two cutting blades because mine will cut holes from 1" to 5" in diameter. The three-bladed one wouldn't do up to 5" and I needed to cut a 4"+ hole. The one with three blades was actually 'better' because all three blades would extend from a center disc at the same time. I couldn't find either one on line, but at my HF they were over near all the drill bits and stuff.
Anyway, here's the pic.