Drilling finished amp

[Smokebreak]

Ive got a finished amp (aluminum chassis)here I'm giving to a friend and I need to drill for another speaker out jack. I'm not concerned about the metal shavings , but I am quite concerned about the vibrations causing future connection issues/weakening joints. Any pro tips? I was just gonna hold on tight and use and step bit. Is reflowing every joint afterwards totally unneccesary?

[RWood]

I wouldn't think drilling on it would be much different than playing it on 9 or 10
I've done it many times to add line out jack.

[Smokebreak]

I wouldn't think drilling on it would be much different than playing it on 9 or 10
I've done it many times to add line out jack.

Well now that's a good point, and I feel better already. I've done it on my own stuff but something about drilling it tonight and handing it over tomorrow kinda freaked me out. Thanks.

[statorvane]

Just make sure you get all the shavings cleaned out. I think you should be fine.

[TUBEDUDE]

Put a strip of tape on both sides of the metal and it will grab must of the shavings.

[Phil_S]

In addition to the tape (great suggestion!) you may want to place a rag to catch anything else and then, of course vacuum, turn over and shake/tap, then vacuum again. Vibrations from drilling are a non-issue for a properly soldered amp. Just be careful where you point the drill!

You may find cardboard or paper and painter's tape are a better choice than a rag depending on exactly where the hole is being made.

[NickC]

I have formed pockets/bulges with wide, brown, paper packaging tape on the inside of the chassis, positioned around the spot I'm going to drill. Just loop the tape so it bulges over the hole area allowing clearance for the drill bit, overlap completely around, sticky side facing towards the hole-to-be-drilled.

After drilling, press the tape against the inside chassis wall to grab/adhere the shrapnel, trapping it in the sticky tape. Then vacuum the area.

[mhartman]

I've done this a few times. Make sure that you won't hit anything when the drill bit goes through the metal. Best advice that I can give is to set your chassis so the open side is down. That way, the shavings should fall out to your bench instead of the opposite.

[xtian]

All good advice. Remember that Mesa actually uses hammers to beat on their chassissessess as a stress test before stamping them OK!

[Smokebreak]

Thanks guys, that was a lot less painful than I remember. Hole was for the back panel, so I inverted the chassis and made a fortress of masking tape around the hole. I noticed something with the res cap while I was in there...I'll start another thread

[TUBEDUDE]

I knew there was a reason Messy Boogers suck, they beat the tone out of them at the factory!

[Structo]

Take some blue painters tape and make a dam type thing inside the amp where you are going to drill the hole.

This will contain the drill shavings so they don't invade the amp.

[Stevem]

If you take some clay or playdough and make a tee pee out of it, stick it on the inside of the chassis where you need to drill your hole(s) and it will catch all the metal shavings, and when you are just roll it up into a ball as you peel it of the chassis and toss it out,ZERO mess or shorts!

[The New Steve H]

And use a step drill that won't go so far into the chassis that you hit something important.