Kevin,
Richard is going to have a slightly tougher time than you did, simply
because there will already be a hole (from the light switch) where the
starter bit would normally be positioned, making it very difficult for
Richard to achieve the same results as if he were just starting with a piece
of solid wood to drill into. I've tried drilling a hole out without the
pilot bit before and things can get ugly very quickly!
In Richard's case, he may well have to try and position some sort of a wood
block behind the dash and hold it in place with a clamp or something, so he
has something to drill the pilot bit into to get things started. Otherwise,
your suggestion is excellent.
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
'68 LHD Spitfire Mk3 frame-off resto project
Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site & Vintage Spitfire Webring
http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
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----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Rhodes <krhodes1@maine.rr.com>
To: Richard B Gosling <Gosling_Richard_B@perkins.com>
Cc: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: Clock mounting
>
> Hello Richard,
>
> I put a clock and an oil pressure gauge in Freddy last winter. The easiest
> method to make the holes is to use a "hole saw". This is a circular saw
> blade meant to be mounted to an electric drill, with a regular drill bit
in
> the middle to draw it down into the work. I used two sizes, one 1/8" inch
> larger than the other. Drill the larger one in just deep enough for the
> ledge, then drill the smaller one straight through. Perfect stepped hole!
A
> set of five holesaws cost ~$15 at a local home center. I used the areas
> where the holes for the GT6 "eyeball" vents are to mount the two gauges -
> oil pressure on the driver's side and clock on the passenger's side. I
> wanted to do what you are planning, but the wires to my headlight switch
> are very short - would not reach and I didn't want to slice and dice to
> extend them.
>
> Kevin Rhodes
> Portland, Maine, USA
> Freddy the Spit
>
> At 08:02 11/06/2000 -0600, you wrote:
>
> >After my adventures last week, losing my toolbox on the way home from the
TRGB
> > Autojumble (see True Gentleman!), I did actually manage to come home
> > with some
> > stuff from TRGB, including an old clock (which, with an old radio, a
battery
> > clamp, and an armrest cost me a fiver!). This is not a perfect match
> > for the
> > other gauges (it is a Keinzle), but it is the right size and reasonably
> > similar, and it works (!), so I plan to fit it to Daffy - she's not a
tidy
> > enough car for me to worry about acheiving perfection, by a long way!!
> >
> >Anyway, this means I will have to start chopping holes in my dash. I
plan to
> > put the clock where the light switch currently sits, between the temp
gauge
> > and the fuel gauge, so there are 3 nice gauges in a row - the light
switch
> > moves to the far side of the steering wheel, currently empty.
> >
> >Anyway, my question - How do I cut the hole to fit the gauge? Presumably
I
> > need a hole the diameter of the gauge body, plus a recess the diameter
> > of the
> > outer rim, creating a stepped hole, so the gauge is recessed like the
> > others.
> > The main hole is no problem - I plan to use an electric jigsaw - but
how
> > do I
> > create the slightly larger diameter recess? I suppose the perfect
answer is
> > to use a router, but I don't own one, nor do I really want to spend the
> > money
> > on one to fit a clock that cost me a fraction of a fiver. I do own a
couple
> > of electric hand drills as well as the jigsaw, but that's about it for
power
> > tools. Can I get an attachment for a drill that will do it for me? If
> > I try
> > that have I got a hope in hell of keeping a straight-ish (or rather a
> > smooth-ish-ly curved) line, and even depth? What else could I do? Can
> > routers be rented, and if so, for what sort of money?
> >
> >Richard and Daffy (got me tunes now, just want to know the time!)
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