I build control panels for a living ... Greenlee makes punch and die sets that fit those pass throughs. You drill a 7/8" diameter hole and use the punch it makes a perfect rectangle hole and no scratches in the paint. it also divots the mounting screw holes for you so you can drill and tap them easily. I also use the blue tape with the punch on gloss type paint and if it leaves residue adhesive you can remove it with WD40. We do a lot of sawing with jigsaws on bigger holes though. Taping off your work is a good practice.
Yes, I have some Greenlee punches but it's only the second time needing this size and the first one was fiberglass so couldn't justify it but should do a follow up video with some of the ones that I do have.
Blue painters tape works great. I also blue painters tape on the foot of the saw. Flip canned air upside down to spray the painters tape to release the adhesive, it freezes the adhesive which allows it to release easier. I personally like a carbide toothed saw blade. I will also cut my saw blade down so that it isn’t overly long.
14 years of cutting panels here and two tips I didn't see here. One is always get the widest tape possible. It goes down so much easier and flatter. Wrinkles in your tape mask are the devil. The second is I always keep a bottle of touch up paint in my box (Rittal makes the little nail polish looking thing). Go around that cut edge to help prevent any rust or oxidation later.
Been at it for 20 years now. Duct tape on the jigsaw and a healthy amount of painters tape has never left scratches. Ever. Also, only drilling 2 holes (not 4) saves a bunch of time both drilling AND finishing corners with the jigsaw. Circ wheel isn’t an option when you’ve only got a a couple mm of flange to work with on a controller. A jigsaw is the only way to go
I use the jigsaw, always with blade down and body weight over the saw. I have been thinking of a router and a jig, or perhaps maybe a clamp-on CNC cutter, that'd be slick as buttered grilled cheese sandwiches.
I build control panels for a living ... Greenlee makes punch and die sets that fit those pass throughs.
You drill a 7/8" diameter hole and use the punch it makes a perfect rectangle hole and no scratches in the paint.
it also divots the mounting screw holes for you so you can drill and tap them easily.
I also use the blue tape with the punch on gloss type paint and if it leaves residue adhesive you can remove it with WD40. We do a lot of sawing with jigsaws on bigger holes though. Taping off your work is a good practice.
Yes, I have some Greenlee punches but it's only the second time needing this size and the first one was fiberglass so couldn't justify it but should do a follow up video with some of the ones that I do have.
Blue painters tape works great. I also blue painters tape on the foot of the saw. Flip canned air upside down to spray the painters tape to release the adhesive, it freezes the adhesive which allows it to release easier. I personally like a carbide toothed saw blade. I will also cut my saw blade down so that it isn’t overly long.
Good tip about the blade length!
14 years of cutting panels here and two tips I didn't see here. One is always get the widest tape possible. It goes down so much easier and flatter. Wrinkles in your tape mask are the devil. The second is I always keep a bottle of touch up paint in my box (Rittal makes the little nail polish looking thing). Go around that cut edge to help prevent any rust or oxidation later.
Those are very good tips. We're going to have a video at the end with viewer tips, that'll definitely make it.
Been at it for 20 years now. Duct tape on the jigsaw and a healthy amount of painters tape has never left scratches. Ever. Also, only drilling 2 holes (not 4) saves a bunch of time both drilling AND finishing corners with the jigsaw. Circ wheel isn’t an option when you’ve only got a a couple mm of flange to work with on a controller. A jigsaw is the only way to go
Good tips!
I use the jigsaw, always with blade down and body weight over the saw. I have been thinking of a router and a jig, or perhaps maybe a clamp-on CNC cutter, that'd be slick as buttered grilled cheese sandwiches.
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