Jig to enlarge 2" gauge holes

Big Ed

N50247 - '79 Super D
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Messages
1,938
Location
Tampa, FL
Needed a method to enlarge 2" and 2-1/8" auto gauge holes to fit 2-1/4" aircraft gauges. I have a hole saw but needed a way to center it in the existing hole. Came up with this jig.

1. Drill a hole in a hardwood block using a drill press, and drive a steel bushing or spacer into the hole. ID of the bushing should match the arbor bit on your hole saw. Hole should match the OD of the bushing.
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2. Cut a groove about 1/4" deep into the block using the hole saw, using the bushing to guide the arbor bit. Chisel out about 1/8" of wood inside the groove.
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3. Place a hole blank face down in the hole and use that as a template to mark and drill 4 corner holes. Flip over, enlarge the holes, and drive in T nuts.
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4. Using a gauge hole blank or template, mark and drill corner holes in the panel.
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4. Fasten the block to the panel face using instrument screws. Drill the new gauge hole on a drill press with the 2-1/4" hole saw, using the bushing to guide the arbor bit. Clamp the block to the drill press, go very slow, and use cutting oil or similar.
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5. Debur and sand the hole.
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glad it worked out for you. nice that the paint didn't flake off along the cut line

and thanks for the pics, we love pics! lol
 
glad it worked out for you. nice that the paint didn't flake off along the cut line

and thanks for the pics, we love pics! lol

The older factory panels have a vinyl film, not paint. It is extremely durable. After I cut the hole, I trimmed the vinyl edge with a razor blade, resulting in a very sharp and clean edge

I was going to try to strip my panel and powder coat it, but trying to strip an inconspicuous corner proved futile. Wiping with MEK rejuvenated the appearance quite nicely, so it is staying on. Whatever that stuff is, it is bulletproof.
 
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