Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: Dynaflow on December 13, 2008, 06:55:42 pm

Title: Chassis nibbling
Post by: Dynaflow on December 13, 2008, 06:55:42 pm
 I have a 16x8x2 Steel hammond chassis I'm thinking about using in a 36watt lite IIb build I'm considering. I have the chassis already. Has anyone used a hand sheet metal nibbler on one of these chassis's. I'd need to nibble a power socket (iec) but the big concern is a laydown weber pt I have to cut a hole for. I could use a jigsaw if I need to, but was curious if a nibbler would do the job or is the chassis to thick to cut with a hand nibbler? They apparently are .04" thick. Anyone have experience with cutting them with a nibbler?

Regards and thanks,

Dyna
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: sluckey on December 13, 2008, 07:26:00 pm
My little nibbler works fine on those thin Hammond aluminum chassis. I don't think it would do a good job on the steel though. And I'd hate to nibble a hole for a PT in any material. I recommend the jig saw. Cover the chassis with 2" masking tape so it wont get scratched. Mark on the tape, drill corners and one bigger starter hole, then go to it.
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: LooseChange on December 13, 2008, 08:51:27 pm
I use the nibbler on the Hammond Steel chassis all the time. I only use the steel ones.
I wear a nice thick leather work glove and nibble away.  I've done many IEC connector hole sand a few laydown PT type holes.
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: Dynaflow on December 13, 2008, 09:56:14 pm
 Cool! Thanks for the info, I'll probably give it a shot.

Regards,

Dyna
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: mister ed on December 14, 2008, 09:31:21 am
Weber sells stand-up endbell replacements for most , if not all of his power transformers.
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: Dynaflow on December 14, 2008, 12:57:27 pm
 Didn't remember about that, thats not a bad option either Thanks!.....


Regards,

Dyna
Title: Re: Chassis nibbling
Post by: G._Hoffman on December 14, 2008, 11:06:58 pm
It seems to me the best option to get the big hole (aside from having a machinist do it, of course) would be to rough it in with the jig saw, and clean up the edges with the nibbler.  At the very least, that would be faster than doing it all with the nibbler. 

Of course, you could also just drill a line of holes, and nibble away between them.  But that's probably what you had in mind.


Gabriel