[sdiy] LEDs protruding through front panels

[Ben Lincoln]

Hi David.

If your panel is metal, that's a potentially dangerous technique (unless 
you're using a *very* low-torque drill, like maybe a Dremel). If the bit 
binds in the metal, it will turn your panel into a whirling blade of 
finger-chopping destruction. For plastic it's still dangerous, but more 
to the panel in terms of hitting something and breaking apart.

Drill presses are designed to do what you describe but in a safe way - 
clamp the panel to the frame and it (and the bit) will be even more 
steady than you could hold it with your hands as you use the press to 
move the bit instead of the panel.

A little off-topic, but Neal Stephenson uses the similar behaviour of 
the Milwaukee Hole-Hog when it binds as an analogy for Unix in "In the 
Beginning Was the Command Line", which is a good read.

- Ben

David G. Dixon wrote:
> It turns out that the 13/64" drill is too big.  Luckily, I learned this
> without trying it out on my panel first!
>
> What seems to work is to hold the panel firmly in both hands, slide it up
> onto the rotating 3/16" drill bit, and move it up and down with gentle
> gyration for 10 seconds or so.  Now the LEDs are a tight fit to the hilt.
>
> I will definitely check out the numbered drills, though.  Thanks for all the
> great replies!
>
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