[sdiy] LEDs protruding through front panels

[David G. Dixon]

I think I've got a handle on power distribution issues now.  Here is my last
dumb design question for today (promise):

I'm making my first panel with LEDs on it (a triple LFO), and I just want to
press-fit the LED into the 1/8" aluminum panel, with no bezel or anything.
(Note: my panels are bare aluminum with black graphics.)  If I drill a 3/16"
hole, the LED will only go in about half way, and only a small bit of the
tip will protrude from the front of the panel.  If I drill a 13/64" hole, I
believe the LED will go in clear to the hilt, in which case it will protrude
by about 4 or 5 mm, or about half of its length.

So, again, is there a "typical" degree of protrusion for LEDs?  I think I
prefer the "barely sticking out" option for aesthetic reasons, but I prefer
the "stuck in clear to the hilt" option for practical reasons.

Or, is just pushing the bare LED through the aluminum a bad idea for some
reason?  I don't believe they are particularly fragile...