software

I'm going to cut one of my 15 watt chassis and put in Matchless 30 watt transformers and 2 more EL84 power tubes. So, gurus, what's the best way to cut holes and enlarge power transformer cutouts?

Thanks.

How big of a hole do you want to make?

Best thing I can think of are Aviation snips? Worked great!! Back in H.S.
metal shop. Maybe even a sawsall with the right blade.

The best way to do tube holes is to use some type of chassis punch. You'd need to drill a quot;pilotquot; hole of some type, then bolt the assembly together and use a wrench to draw the punch thru.

A a hand-held hydraulic punch like what you would use to make cut-outs on a large electrical box would work great.

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Aluminum is pretty easy to cut, you could use a hole saw bit on a drill too...

Cool link. Greenlee is the shiznit in punches!

Though that kit is not easy on the wallet.

You might shoot James Peters an email. I believe my 3CP1 has an aluminum chassis.

EL84 sized. size of a normal 9 pin preamp tube socket. Can't remember the exact size. I'd have to go measure.

Hole punch.... hmm... let me check the hardware store. All I'd need would be one to do the preamp/EL84 tubes and another to do the 6L6/5AR4 tubes.

Scott

Plasma torch

or Water jet (That stuff cut titanium)

What till you try to bend it...

It breaks rather easily

PS: Scott have you tried welding alumium yet?

Dude, I have some nice Aluminum chassis' for the 15 watter that was laser cut somewhere. I just want to mod it to run 4xEL84 instead of two. So, I gotta punch two more holes for the extra power tubes. Then I'll have to enlarge the holes that the PT and OT drop into.

I'm *not* trying to start from scratch. If my 30 watter works out, I'll get the guy to make my next few chassis' with the extra holes.

Maybe a hole saw kit is what you need?

from : localhost/maybe a step drill bit to bore out the holes?

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well, seems like you got enough advice here to figure something out.

Believe it or not, and lot of the AX84/18_Watt guys drill tube-socket holes with regular wood-boring spade bits. They actually do a good job in aluminum; I just did a few in my 1/8quot; aluminum pedalboard top when I didn't have the right size Greenlee punch.

The problem with Greenlee punches is that they're expensive. If you're only doing a few holes, buy a spade bit at Home Depot. Look for the kind with a little spur on the outside, rather than the square corner.

For transformer holes, I would recommend drilling the corners with a large twist drill of spade bit (that matches the xfrmer's corner radius) then connect the holes with a jig saw (plus a bit of filing) or with a nibbling tool. A nibbler that will cut chassis is available at Radio Shack for ~$10. I used it on my DIY 13-Watter for the power connector hole and such.

Sawzall.

Fixes everything!!!